Monday 13 July 2015 16:30, UK
John Aldridge says Liverpool should use the money wisely from the Raheem Sterling deal by signing a quality striker this summer.
Sterling is expected to move to Manchester City, subject to a medical, after the two clubs agreed on a record-breaking £49m deal for the 21-year-old.
Aldridge, who made over 100 appearances for Liverpool, says the club must learn from the mistakes made in the transfer market following the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona last season.
“Liverpool definitely have to go out and get the striker who is going to get the goals,” said Aldridge, who played for Liverpool from 1987-89, scoring 64 goals.
“Daniel Sturridge will get back in late September - hopefully he can go injury-free this season because he was a huge loss last year as well. Danny Ings has great potential. [Divock] Origi is a Belgium international, who has kept Christian Benteke out of the Belgium side sometimes, so hopefully he’ll settle in English football straight away.
If Liverpool do want Benteke then Villa have all the aces
“With the threat of those lads, I think Liverpool could do very well. Don’t forget last year Liverpool’s strikers only scored eight goals between them, which was horrendous.”
Liverpool have already been heavily linked with Aston Villa striker Benteke, who is believed to have a £32.5m buy-out clause in his contract.
“I think from an Aston Villa perspective they can just sit tight now knowing that Liverpool have got near enough £40m from the Raheem deal,” said Aldridge.
“They can stick to the clause in the contract and not budge. It becomes another game of cards. I think Liverpool won the game of cards with Sterling and his agent. If they do want Benteke then Villa have all the aces and Liverpool are going to have to pay top-notch.”
Aldridge believes that Brendan Rodgers already has a ready-made replacement for Sterling in Jordan Ibe.
“Certainly with Raheem, Liverpool have got more than enough there to play that position,” he said.
“A young lad called Jordan Ibe, who I’ve been watching since he was 15, is a terrific young player and a fantastic young talent. And he could in my opinion could surpass Raheem. He’s got everything going if nurtured in the right way.
“What Liverpool need to do is go out and spend wisely and get that elusive striker that we missed last year. The striker who’s going to give you 20 goals-plus - and pay whatever you need to pay to get him."
