‘Crucial and vital’ – Steven Gerrard says there’s one player Liverpool absolutely must not sell
‘Crucial and vital’ – Steven Gerrard says there’s one player Liverpool absolutely must not sell Steven Gerrard has implored Liverpool not to sell Curtis Jones this summer, insisting that local inclusion in the first-team squad is ‘vital’ at Anfield. The 25-year-old is the only senior player hailing from Merseyside who currently plays for the Reds, and he’s been linked with an exit to Inter Milan of late, with David Lynch recently claiming that talks over a new contract for the Toxteth native have ‘effectively ceased’. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE!
ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY Although LFC have the likes of Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni who’ve made the leap from academy to first-team level, neither of those talented youngsters are from the city, and it seems increasingly plausible that the senior squad might have no local players in it next season. Gerrard implores Liverpool not to sell Jones Gerrard has spoken about the importance of the academy system at Liverpool and how those from the locality have an innate understanding of what it means to play for the Reds. He told BFM Radio : “I think the academy system at our club is crucial and vital.
It’s important we keep producing homegrown talents. I think naturally, being around the city, growing up in the city, we understand the demands of the club, the style, what the fans want. It’s embedded in us because we know the city inside out.
“I wouldn’t allow Curtis Jones to leave. I wished and hoped that Trent didn’t leave us. Certainly, you’ll understand and respect every player has got their own career and can make their own decisions.
” Gerrard added: “I think it’s critical and key that we keep producing homegrown talent, and what you do have to say is that Liverpool have been really good at that. “If you look back, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Trent, myself – even the likes of players like Jay Spearing and Stephen Warnock who don’t play the [same] amount of games, but they still come into the team and they understand the values and the principles of what we’re about. ” Want more Empire of the Kop coverage?