Liverpool’s decision to seemingly end their interest in Todd Cantwell could prove beneficial in Curtis Jones’ development.
The Reds will not pursue a move for the Norwich City midfielder, according to The Athletic’s James Pearce, who spoke on the Red Agenda podcast [03/03/20 – 52:13].
While Cantwell is a good young talent who has impressed for the Canaries this season, I don’t see the need to sign him when Jones is already at the club.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Anfield, going from young hopeful to someone who can hold his own in the first-team.
Jones has scored twice for the Reds, against Everton and Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, but the maturity of his all-round game has shone through just as much as those two goals.
There was a time when the teenager would try to do too much on his own in academy matches, but he is becoming a more rounded footballer, competing better physically and improving in his decision-making.
Jones is at a point where he can thrive as a regular in Jurgen Klopp’s sqaud, but bringing in Cantwell could have blocked his path to the first-team.
With Adam Lallana leaving at the end of the season, there is an understandable desire to replace him, but Liverpool have a tailor-made figure in that respect in Jones.
He can find himself in a situation where he is affecting games from the substitutes’ bench and proving to be a genuinely useful squad player, albeit likly still playing second fiddle to the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Assuming he continues on this current trajectory, there is no reason why Jones can’t usurp some of those names mentioned over time, as they age and the youngster heads towards his peak years.
There are comparisons to be drawn between Cantwell and Jones – both are creative midfielders with an eye for goal – but rather than having both at the club and potentially paying over the odds on the former, abandoning the deal for the Norwich man is the correct decision.
