With the Premier League set to resume, the Liverpool fans may finally have a measure of relief. Now Jurgen Klopp has to decide whether he would want to extend the contract of his outgoing players till the end of the season. However, reports indicate that Leicester City are leading the race to sign Adam Lallana on a free transfer, whose contract ends on 30th of June. If the English player leaves before the end of this term, we take a look at three other alternatives that the German gaffer has in his squad to manage for the remainder of the season.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The 26-year-old has already featured in 21 Premier League matches, 8 of which have been from the substitute bench. Already he is above Lallana in the pecking order, and now the imminent departure of the ex-Southampton man would ensure that Chamberlain receives even more game time.
Under Klopp, the England international has established himself to be an extremely dependable man. If he is given a more prominent role, eventually the English team would also benefit from his services. The 26-year-old has notched up 1.5 shots per game this term, three of which have found the back of the net. Already a fan favourite, the ex-Arsenal man could also improve on his 83.1% of completed passes rate.
Curtis Jones
On the back of some impressive performances for the youth teams, the manager decided to give him a chance in the senior squad, and Jones has repaid the faith entrusted by the German upon him. His display against Everton in the FA Cup is well documented in the memories of the supporters, and the youngster has also got his chances in the Premier League.
Coming on as a late substitute on two encounters, Jones has amassed 19 minutes of playing time in the English top tier, which could increase substantially in the absence of Lallana. The England U-19 has the skills and the creative spark to shine in the midfield for his team, and the postponement of the league can be a blessing in disguise for him.
Takumi Minamino
It would not be an overstatement to say that the Japanese man has not lived up to expectations for the Reds. A bargain buy, the ex Red Bull Salzburg man was expected to match the displays of his previous team, for whom he completed two key passes and made 2.8 shots per game in the Champions League. The supporters still believe that with time and patience, he would be able to regain his form and be an impact substitute for the Merseyside club.
Lallana’s departure could be a start as Klopp could give him more chances to shine. With more game time under his belt, his partnership with the Liverpool front three could improve, which may have a long-lasting effect on the team in the upcoming season.
Stats from Whoscored.
