Liverpool look set to be indulging in a massive summer rebuild. Part of that rebuild will see the midfield area given a huge reboot. We caught up with former Liverpool icon John Barnes to discuss the form of Enzo Fernandez who Liverpool missed out on during the January transfer window. He also shared his thoughts on the proposition of Connor Gallagher potentially joining the Reds this summer.
Connor Gallagher’s struggles are Chelsea’s struggles
Connor Gallagher had a great season with Crystal Palace last year, scoring 8 goals and providing 3 assists in 34 Premier League appearances. Since returning to Chelsea, the midfielder has made 28 appearances but only has 2 goals and 1 assist to his name. Gallagher, who graduated from Cobham, has been linked with a move to Liverpool. Barnes was impressed with Gallagher’s performance last season and believes that his struggles this season can be attributed to Chelsea’s difficulties.
“Gallagher had a great year last season at Palace so we know he’s a good player.”
‘Cheslea have struggled this year so Gallagher has struggled this season. He is of course part of that.”
“Gallagher isn’t going to go into a struggling Chelsea side and change their fortunes even if he is a good player.”
“He has to go into a team that’s playing well as he did when he was at Palace.”
“His inconsistency is Chelsea’s inconsistency.”
Gallagher isn’t an upgrade on Liverpool midfielders
Mason Mount, another Chelsea midfielder, has also been linked to Liverpool. Barnes sees similarities between Mount and Gallagher. However, he is not convinced that Gallagher is currently better than Liverpool’s current midfield options, although he wouldn’t be unhappy to see Gallagher join the Reds.
“He’s similar to Mason Mount stylistically but is more of a box to box midfielder than Mount is. He’s someone that can get up and down the pitch very well.”
“He’s a decent enough player.”
“He’s up and down and he’s a hard working player.”
“Is he better than what we have or what we want? I don’t necessarily think so but he’s young and english so I wouldn’t be upset if he joined liverpool.”
Liverpool haven’t missed out by not signing Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool during the January transfer window. But the Argentinian World Cup winner ended up joining Chelsea instead. Chelsea set a British transfer record with the signing from Benfica for £107 million ($132 million). Barnes does not think that Liverpool have missed out on the Argentinian and cites Chelsea’s poor league position as evidence that his absence has not been a loss for Liverpool.
“Well, Enzo signed for Chelsea, and where are they in the league? I think you have the answer right there, in terms of if Liverpool missed out on him.”
“Chelsea are being inconsistent with Enzo Fernandez, so if he is so good, why aren’t they performing better? Then he wouldn’t make Liverpool perform better.”
“I don’t think Liverpool missed out on him and I doubt that Liverpool even tried to get him but it’s not important whether they wanted him or not.”
