Former Liverpool ace David Thompson has urged the Reds to spend big money in the transfer window, and should compete with Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United for the signing of £75m-rated Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
Anfield hero Steven Gerrard is set to leave Merseyside at the end of the season, and there’s much speculation over who could possibly fill the place of the talismanic midfielder.
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Thompson admits that Gerrard is impossible to replace, but says the club should now look to move on from the Gerrard era, and break the bank to build a side capable of competing with the Premier League’s top four.
“You cannot replace Stevie G. There’s no point trying,” he told the Daily Star.
“He’s been associated with the club since he was eight and he’s someone I’ve been aware of since he was 11,” he added.
“He’s an icon, a legend. He’s the greatest player ever to pull on a Liverpool shirt.
“Stevie is the type of person who just brings so much to the whole club and the changing room that it won’t be the same without him.”
The former midfielder adds that the Reds may have to emulate the transfer business of Manchester United in Louis van Gaal’s first summer in charge – in which the Red Devils spent £150m on transfers and weren’t afraid of offering huge wage packages to land star players that have helped them return to the top four.
“What Liverpool need to do now is spend big. I’d love to see Pogba come in but without Champions League football it’s very difficult to attract the big names,” he continued.
“They may have to do what United have done and pay over-the-top prices, give players big wages and loosen the purse strings to ensure they get back in the top four.”