Todd Cantwell is not among Liverpool’s primary transfer targets this summer, according to the Independent‘s Melissa Reddy.
The 21-year-old was linked with a move to Anfield on Monday, with David Ornstein of The Athletic claiming the Reds were front-runners for his signature.
Reddy has offered an alternative take, however, saying Cantwell is ‘not considered an active target’ currently, but is very much on the club’s radar.
The Norwich City youngster has scored six goals in the Premier League this season, performing well despite the Canaries propping up the rest of the table.
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On the evidence of this season, Cantwell could be a sensible replacement for Adam Lallana this summer, considering the rumoured £30 million isn’t extortionate and he represents a long-term solution.
He could bring some of the same technical expertise and strong work ethic as Lallana – he has an 81.5 per cent pass completion rate and averages 1.3 tackles per game in the league this season – and has scored five more goals in one Premier League season than Lallana has since May 2017.
I would have concerns about a move for Cantwell potentially blocking Curtis Jones’ rise to prominence, seeing as both are famed for being creative midfielders who occupy a similar area of the pitch – namely attacking midfield, often to the left of a three.
At 19, however, Jones is still very much a work in progress, whereas Cantwell has three years on him and could expect more regular action, given his extra experience. Having both in the squad shouldn’t, therefore, be an issue.
Liverpool’s midfield isn’t getting any younger either – James Milner is 34, while Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum both turn 30 this year – meaning there could be future opportunities in the middle of the park.
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