Steve McManaman has warned that signing a new midfielder this summer could hinder the development of the club’s young talents.
Liverpool ’s slow start to the new season, coupled with multiple injuries in the middle of the park, has led to widespread calls for those in charge at Anfield to invest ahead of schedule. Reds manager Jurgen Klopp even admitted last week that earlier claims they don’t need additions were incorrect.
But what the club do have is a host of outstanding young talent in midfield, including the likes of Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho - as well as Stefan Bacjetic, who became the youngest non-English player to play for the club on Saturday at 17 years and 309 days old.
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And former midfielder McManaman has warned that bringing in a stop-gap midfielder could stunt the long-term development of said youngsters.
“I think it was Curtis Jones then it was Harvey Elliott, to be fair Carvalho has come on and done really well in the cameo appearances he’s got,” McManaman told BT Sport . “I think if he does bring someone in for the next few weeks, it does stop that development of those players.
“They’re going to be inconsistent, we know that, they’re young kids but if you want them to improve and be first-team players you have to give them the opportunity to play.”
Liverpool’s midfield woes looked set to improve slightly in time for the weekend, with Curtis Jones back in training on Monday and back on the bench for the Reds against Newcastle - but there are now question marks over Jordan Henderson and the injury he sustained in the 2-1 win last night.
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