Jamie Redknapp has urged Liverpool to replace Giorgino Wijnaldum with Youri Tielemans to mount a title challenge against Manchester City.
Liverpool got off to a flying start against Norwich City in their Premier League opener. Mohammed Salah was the star of the show with two assists and a goal, while Diogo Jota and Roberton Firmino were also on the scoresheet. The game also marked the full return of Virgil Van Dijk, who played the entire 90 minutes.
The Reds are considered a challenger for the title this season, alongside the Manchester Clubs and Chelsea. With such high stakes placed, they were expected to go big in the transfer market to rectify a few gaps in their squad.
Apart from the signing of central defender Ibrahima Konate early in the window from RB Leipzig, though, the Merseysiders have made no significant signings. Jurgen Klopp addressed the issue recently, suggesting it won’t make sense to sign new players unless some existing stars leave the club.
Despite the departure of influential midfielder Gini Wijnaldum, Liverpool has many other names that are still on their payroll. Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been linked with a move away, and the club might entertain offers. However, there hasn’t been anything significant yet.
? "I'd go for Tielemans, I'd do everything in my power to get him into the club. Right now that's an area where they are short."
Jamie Redknapp says Youri Tielemans would be the ideal player for Liverpool to sign to replace Gini Wijnaldum pic.twitter.com/DcOc28qkRG
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 14, 2021
Many believe that signing top draw midfielder would go a long way to helping Liverpool compete properly on all fronts, and Jamie Redknapp has a suggestion to make. The former England international and pundit suggested that Liverpool sign Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans before the window shuts.
The Daily Mail posted some of Redknapp’s quotes talking about many things regarding Liverpool, and about the potential midfield signing, he said, “Liverpool have to get a midfield player in. That’s a major blow, losing Wijnaldum, and I don’t think they’ve got the capability of actually replacing him right now.
“Who you get is incredibly difficult: I always look at Liverpool as buying the best players. I would go for [Youri] Tielemans – I would do everything in my power to get him into the club. He’s a Liverpool type of player. Leicester fans will probably be throwing cups of tea at the TV now, saying, ‘well, why would he want to leave when he’s at a big club?’ And he is at a big club with a great manager.
“Leicester are obviously in the ascendancy; I love what they’re doing there. They’re not a selling club anymore, but that’s the sort of player who you need to get, who will come into the club and make you better because right now, that’s where they’re short”, he added.
On paper, Tielemans might look like a proper Liverpool signing, but it will take a huge effort and fee to prise the midfielder away from Leicester. With two years left on his current deal, the Foxes are likely to demand a massive fee for a player they paid around 40 million, making the move highly unlikely owing to the current financial climate of European football.
