It’s not been an easy few weeks for Liverpool on the Steven Gerrard replacement front.
They’re believed to be targeting Roma star Miralem Pjanic as their MLS-bound skipper’s long-term successor, but Manchester United’s plans to blow the Reds out of the water with a £37million bid were revealed by The Express last Friday.
And to make matters worse, reports from The Daily Star this morning claim both Premier League outfits will soon be gazumped by Barcelona, who view the 25 year-old playmaker as a natural successor to departing 2010 World Cup winner Xavi. The Catalan outfit are prepared to go up to £40million, but won’t be able to sign the Stadio Olympico talisman until their transfer embargo ends in January 2016.
But fear not Liverpool fans, for Football Fancast is here to help. We’ve listed FIVE alternatives to Pjanic, the majority of whom fall somewhere in between the Bosnian international and Steven Gerrard on the deep lying-playmaker spectrum, who the Merseysiders could turn to this summer.
YOHAN CABAYE
A likeminded playmaker who knows the Premier League well, former Newcastle star Yohan Cabaye could certainly keep Liverpool’s midfield ticking over for a season or two.
The France international spent two-and-a-half years at Newcastle, amassing 18 goals and 15 assists in 93 appearances before moving to PSG in January 2014, almost inspiring them to Champions League qualification during the 2011/12 campaign.
He’s blessed with cultured feet and fantastic vision, whilst his quality at dead-ball situations, when both scoring and supplying, verges upon world class. At least in terms of set piece delivery and long-range distribution, he’s a natural choice to fill Steven Gerrard’s void.
Having made just 20 Ligue 1 starts over the last 18 months, Cabaye’s widely expected to leave Parc de Princes this summer.
The Independent value him at just £10million, but at 29 years of age, the playmaking Frenchman doesn’t offer Liverpool much longevity.
GRANIT XHAKA
Once dubbed ‘young Schweinsteiger’ for his shared combination of playmaking ability and upper body strength with the German World Cup winner, Granit Xhaka has often been mooted as a potential successor to Steven Gerrard.
The Borussia Monchengladbach prodigy has been in fantastic form this season, averaging an eclectic 3.7 tackles, 3.1 interceptions, 1.7 created chances and 91.7 passes per-match from 25 Bundesliga outings. The latter statistic is the third-highest rate in the division, making him the only non-Bayern Munich player in the top five.
The 22 year-old is a fantastic talent with plenty of experience under his belt already; in addition to racking up 27 appearances in Europe throughout his spells with Basel and Gladbach, he’s also picked up 35 caps for the Switzerland national team.
Xhaka could be the long-term option Liverpool are looking for – but after extending his contract until 2019 in February, he’s unlikely to be on the move this summer.
JAMES MILNER
By no means a like-for-like alternative to Steven Gerrard or Miralem Pjanic but certainly an option worth Liverpool’s consideration; James Milner is set to enter the summer transfer window as one of its best value-for-money bargains, upon the expiration of his Manchester City contract.
The 29 year-old may not exactly be a world-beating superstar with a glamorous haircut, but he’s home-grown, two-footed, highly versatile, creative yet industrious and supremely experienced, with 415 Premier League appearances, two league titles and 53 England caps under his belt.
Central midfield is perhaps the former Leeds, Newcastle and Aston Villa man’s least-tested position, but will likely be the one he naturally gravitates towards during the next few years as his pace dwindles with age.
Liverpool are already mooted as potential suitors of Milner’s, courtesy of The Independent, but a host of clubs from across the continent, ranging from Arsenal to Inter Milan, have also been linked in recent weeks.
MATEO KOVACIC
Mateo Kovacic was touted as a world star from an early age – attracting interest from Ajax, Bayern Munich, Inter and Juventus when he was just 13 – and is now beginning to deliver on his heralded potential.
The Inter Milan prodigy has been in fantastic form this season, bagging five goals and two assists in 28 Serie A appearances whilst averaging 1.6 created chances and 2.8 successful dribbles per match.
He’s a fluid playmaker who could eventually emerge as more of a No.10, but this season he’s found his best form in deep positions, boasting a pass competition rate of 87%.
Inter Milan could be forced to sell the 20 year-old this summer; although they have an eccentric free-spending owner in Erick Thorhir, the San Siro side need to balance their books under Financial Fair Play regulations.
But Liverpool may find themselves quickly eclipsed in any pursuit of Kovacic. According to talkSPORT, Arsenal, Manchester City and Barcelona have all been courting the Croatian international for some time.
DANI PAREJO
A name Liverpool fans will know well, the Reds were strongly linked to Valencia midfielder Dani Parejo last summer, with The Express mooting a £20million bid.
Such an offer never materialised but Brendan Rodgers might be advised to reconsider; this season, the 26 year-old has bagged eight goals and three assists in 28 La Liga appearances, whilst averaging an impressive 2.7 tackles, 1 created chance and 52 passes per match.
He’s a somewhat more passive presence than Pjanic or Gerrard but the former Real Madrid youngster’s technical quality remains without doubt, and added more industry and physicality to his game this season – suggesting he’d be a better fit for the Premier League than when Liverpool targeted him eight months ago.
After four seasons at the Mestalla, the former Spain U21 might be willing to consider pastures new this summer. And with just a year remaining on his current contract, a decent offer around the £15million mark would force Valencia to sell.
