A former Red considers a promising English winger should show more”consistency” in order to make a big-money move to Anfield.
John Barnes has welcomed the possibility of Jadon Sancho coming at Liverpool this summer but says that the Borussia Dortmund celebrity would need to be satisfied with a bit-part part in Jurgen Klopp’s side at this stage of his career.
Sancho is now enjoying another superb season with Dortmund, helping the team struggle for the Bundesliga name and success from the Champions League.
The 19-year-old has racked up 34 looks across all competitions, scoring 17 goals, while bringing plenty more attention from some of the world’s largest clubs.
A move to the Premier League has been mooted for the England global once the transfer market reopens, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool reported being interested in his services.
Despite his tender age, Sancho is allegedly already being valued at around #100 million ($129m), so the Reds would need to crush their transfer record so as to lure him away from Westfalenstadion.
Barnes isn’t sure the teenage winger has warranted such a price tag yet and does not believe he would slot straight into Liverpool’s line-up given the fact Klopp currently has Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at his disposal upfront.
The Anfield legend told BonusCodeBets: “If Jadon Sancho is prepared to return to Liverpool and not play each week and sit on the seat, then absolutely he must come to Liverpool. But I tell young players to be cautious and perform at a high level for four-five years prior to moving to a larger club.
“Salah and Mane have been in existence for four or five seasons now and have shown their quality and expertise, whereas Sancho has existed for 18 months and wants to demonstrate that consistency on a three-year interval before he prices #100 million into an enormous club. That doesn’t occur in modern soccer anymore, nowadays, if you’re young and have just a really good season, someone will spend #80 million-plus on you.
“I’d recommend Jadon Sancho to develop more and show that degree of consistency until he’s going to be put under plenty of pressure by being a 100 million player playing one of the greatest clubs in the world.”
1 man Barnes does believe is capable of forcing his way to Liverpool’s front three is RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, who has made no secret of his admiration for the Merseyside outfit.
The 24-year-old has hit 21 goals in 25 Bundesliga trips for Julian Nagelsmann’s side this term and is expected to move on to pastures new later in the year.
“Timo Werner would be great competition for Mane or Salah,” explained Barnes. “It’s more of a question about maintaining the present group of players as opposed to going to sign new players.
“In football, it’s very likely that a team could get rid of a few of the players in the summer, you can’t know what will happen.
“Right now, I’d be considering forgetting the plans for the summer and concentrate on winning the league this season and finish the year strong and then worry about what exactly will happen in the summer.”
Liverpool are now gearing up for a Champions League last-16 second-leg showdown against Atletico Madrid, as they plan to win Europe’s top prize for a second consecutive year.
The Premier League title will most likely be heading to Anfield come May, with just two wins standing between the Reds and an elusive piece of silverware, and Barnes is of the opinion that national attractiveness is more important than continental success.
“Liverpool haven’t won the Premier League in more than 30 years,” he added. “Last year, beating Barcelona and winning the Champions League was a bonus.
“I’d enjoy winning the Premier League over the Champions League every single moment. Winning the Premier League for Liverpool will be absolutely immense.”
