Rafa Benitez seems to have a great many players on his wish list, and this one is a damn talented midfielder who didn’t really get a chance with two Premier League giants.
£10m rated Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra ‘has a string of clubs interested in him’, according to a source at Fratton Park, with Liverpool thought to be favourites to sign the former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder. (The Observer)
I rate Gareth Barry very highly and think that he would be a great buy. However, if Rafa was wondering whether Lassana Diarra was a better option, then I would opt for the Portsmouth star for sure. Liverpool already have some fantastic midfield options and clearly Benitez doesn’t need a wealth of talent in that field, but every time I see Diarra in action, he just seems to get better and better.
It’s a shame that at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates, the French international never really got going and was only really considered as injury cover. Since the 23-year-old moved to Fratton Park, he has flourished and his continuing impressive displays helped him secure a spot in the Euro 2008 squad, something a certain Flamini failed to do. Would Liverpool fans rather have Diarra than Barry, or could they both serve the club well?