If The Mirror are to be believed, Fabian Delph could be on his way to Liverpool if he joins from Aston Villa this January. However, if the club believe he has the ability to replace the departing Steven Gerrard, they are completely deluded.
After Gerrard announced that he was going to join MLS side LA Galaxy at the end of this season, many Liverpool fans would have started to panic. Gerrard is Liverpool’s top goalscorer so far and his presence in midfield is still invaluable. Although Fabian Delph is an excellent performer at Premier league level, he is nowhere near the type of player that Steven Gerrard is.
Liverpool will be looking to properly replace the Anfield legend in the summer and if they are going to find a suitable replacement, they are going to have to spend a lot of money. Right now, in the Premier League, there are not many players who can even come close to Gerrard’s all-round ability in the middle of the park. In fact, there are no players in the league that immediately spring to mind in terms of replacing Steven Gerrard. This is why domestically, Fabian Delph may prove to be one of the better signings Liverpool could make in order to compensate for the inevitable departure of their star man.
A lot depends on whether Liverpool will be able to attract world class names to Anfield this summer. If the Reds manage to qualify for Europe, then they have a chance of signing some established names. However, if they miss out on European football, something that looks quite possible at this particular moment in time, they will not be able to replace Steven Gerrard. Players who possess a passing range and shot accuracy like Gerrard are very hard to find. Paul Pogba and Kevin Strootman definitely fit the mould that Gerrard bases his game on but whether Liverpool would actually be able to sign these players is a different story.
Realistically, Steven Gerrard is a talent that is rarely available at the drop of a hat. Brendan Rodgers may not realise the job he could potentially have on his hands when Gerrard leaves, as the captain’s presence both in the dressing room and on the pitch would be a huge loss to any football club.
Gerrard himself admitted that he would have signed a new contract in pre-season if it was offered to him and Liverpool fans may be left to consider what might have been when the midfielder finally leaves the club this summer. Understandably, Rodgers is looking towards Liverpool’s future and the potential decrease in game time for Steven Gerrard was one of the main reasons as to why he decided this season will be his final campaign at the club.
There is an overriding sense that Gerrard’s loss will be very a difficult one for Brendan Rodgers to deal with. If Liverpool were to find a worthy replacement, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a young star emerging from the club’s academy in the near future. However, Liverpool fans should relish Steven Gerrard’s remaining days in a Liverpool shirt as it could be a very long time before they have a player that possesses anything close to their current captain’s footballing ability in the centre of the park.
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