Gerrard Replacement? Liverpool On The Verge Of Signing £25m Chelsea & Arsenal Target

With the new season drawing nearer, most clubs have set about trying to fix gaps in their squads. It is on this premise that the Metro have linked Real Madrid’s Asier Illarramendi to Liverpool.

This summer saw the departure of Kop legend, Steven Gerrard to LA Galaxy in the MLS after 120 goals and 504 appearances in 17 years at Liverpool. It would be a strange sight when the line up shows up in the big screen and his name nowhere to be found. Liverpool have confirmed the signing of 7 players already this summer but they have failed to find a replacement for their talismanic captain. It has been pointed out by insider sources at Anfield that boss, Brendan Rogers mystery replacement is Asier Illaramendi.

The Reds have recruited midfielders; James Milner and Roberto Firmino this summer they remain incapable of playing as holding midfielders with only Lucas Leiva the recognised defensive midfielder in the first team albeit Joe Allen can put in a reasonable shift in the role. Lucas Leiva has struggled with fitness issues over the past couple of years and the Reds cannot rely on a makeshift midfielder in such an important position. Illaramendi fits the bill here as he is adept as a defensive midfielder and a deep lying playmaker.

Illaramendi has struggled for playing time at the Bernabeu and with Real Madrid linked to William Carvalho, he looks set for more time on the bench. He is currently behind Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the perking order and has a miserly return of 2 goals in 59 appearances after spending 2 years at the spanish capital.

The Metro have reported that Liverpool have lodged a bid for the player and if they are successful in their pursuit, he would become their eight signing this summer after the arrivals of Danny Ings, Joe Gomez, Adam Bogdan, Nathaniel Clyne, Roberto Firmino, Milner and Christian Benteke.