Forget Gavi, Liverpool have €1bn playmaker of their own

Liverpool have a player who will be just as good as Gavi and worth €1bn in years to come.

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For a few years now, the Reds have had the Barcelona midfielder on their radar. But it seems like any possibility of Gavi moving to Anfield has been quashed.

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Barcelona have announced they have signed their academy product to a new contract until 2030 and have slapped a staggering €1bn release clause according to GOAL.

There is no way Liverpool are going to pay that. There is no way any team is going to pay that. So, it's safe to say Gavi will be spending the rest of his days in the Camp Nou.

But this won't worry Liverpool because they have an academy gem of their own who can follow in the footsteps of Gavi and who has shown he can be the type of midfielder Arne Slot needs.

James McConnell is Liverpool's Gavi

Arne Slot heaped praise on the young midfielder following his magnificent performance in the Champions League against PSV. McConnell made the most tackles for Liverpool on the night and covered the most ground as well.

He was simply sensational and it's not the first time. He's been exceptional every time he has been on the pitch.

This was especially the case when McConnell came up against the mega money signings of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the Carabao Cup final.

Only a teenager coming on at Wembley, McConnell dominated the midfield in the extra-time period and played a key role in the Reds lifting the trophy.

The way he moves is very dynamic and like Gavi he is an academy product who is flexible. He can drop deep and he can play higher up should he need to.

At academy level, McConnell even played as a no.10 and as a winger. At first team level he's often shown he can be incisive and efficient with his passing.

His best game in that regard was his first start for Liverpool against Norwich City last year in the FA Cup. In that game he registered an assist with a beautiful cross from the midfield into Curtis Jones for a tap in and played several sublime balls across the pitch.

His emergence definitely negates the need for Liverpool to add a Gavi like figure. Why spend all of that €1bn on the Spaniard when there is already someone like him ready for his chance, and in years to come could prove to be just as good.

Keep an eye out on McConnell. This is just the beginning of his career in a Liverpool shirt. The fact that he's won over both Jurgen Klopp and Slot tells you all you need to know.

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