Steven Gerrard recently gave an interview where he indicated that he would like to snap up the loan quartet of Lassana Coulibaly, Ovie Ejaria, Ryan Kent and Joe Worrall on a permanent basis. Apart from Worrall, all three have played a crucial part this season so far. It seems like Worrall’s time has also arrived as he made his debut for the Light Blues for the first time in the tough away encounter against Villarreal.
Ovie Ejaria and Ryan Kent are on loan from Liverpool, and Gerrard hoped that his connections with the club could help him land them on a permanent basis next summer. The gaffer said,”I’m still in Jurgen’s (Klopp) good books for the foreseeable future and Liverpool keep winning, so maybe there is some scope, but we rate them very highly.
As Gerrard mentioned, if Liverpool keeps on doing well, their chances of landing the duo would be high as Kent and Ejaria would realise that breaking into the first eleven at Anfield would be next to impossible given the talent they have at their disposal currently. However, both of them are young, so Liverpool could demand a price which might be out of bounds for the Gers. The Teddy Bears faithful would hope that Gerrard can help them land on a special discount next summer.
The interviewer again asked whether he was looking to make permanent deals for Ejaria, Kent and Coulibaly to which Gerrard said,”Are you bugging my phone? The three players you’ve mentioned and Joe Worrall in time will be added to your list – he’s already on mine.”
”They are players we’ve gone for because we rate them very highly. Three of them have settled really well, Joe had a really tough debut [against Villarreal] but came through it very well in my opinion. In an ideal situation, they are all on four or five-year deals but unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. If you’re asking me if I’d want the four of them for next year, I’d sign the four of them right now.”- he added further.
Gerrard didn’t mince any words and made it clear as daylight that he certainly wants to sign them on a permanent basis. Kent started off slow and is gradually coming into his own as the season wears by. Coulibaly’s impact can be felt by the fact that when he wasn’t playing because of injuries, the Gers suffered a slight dip in form. Since the 22-year-old is back, it seems that they have a strong midfield general. As for Worrall, it’s still early days as he has played just one game but the signs are clear that Gerrard rates him highly.
Gerrard might be able to get the two Liverpool man but Worrall could be a bit out of bounds as in January as he was subject to a £10m bid which was rejected. Maybe now that he has fallen down the pecking order, Nottingham Forest might accept a much lower bid for him. As for Coulibaly, it is not yet clear how much the French outfit would demand but we expect Gerrard to go in hard for the midfielder.
