John Henry spoke on Monday about how the club wouldn’t sacrifice the long term for the short term, and while there was money to be spent, January likely won’t be the time. If the transfer market looks that way, then focusing on developing youth would be a wise decision, but what if a 23-year-old English international who fits your exact positional need becomes available?
That may just be the case with Adam Johnson, and if so, Liverpool would be wise to pounce at the opportunity — and not just because Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea will if they don’t.
Despite being among the most influential players on the pitch whenever he is used by Manchester City or England, Johnson is used as a substitute with peculiar frequency. It’s no surprise that he isn’t happy about it.
“It’s still early but I would definitely consider it,” Johnson said of leaving Eastlands, according to the Telegraph.
“It is disappointing when you are not playing from the start in games like that,” he explained, referring to the Manchester Derby. “I was itching to get on. I was dying to play from the start, not just come on.”
Johnson started 14 times in his 16 appearances after rising to stardom last season, but he has just five starts in his 12 appearances thus far in 2010-11.
“Last season and in games at the beginning of this season I was still having an impact when I started,” he remarked.
Johnson also hinted that he may not be content with manager Roberto Mancini‘s negative strategies.
“A lot of the players are attacking-minded players and want to attack. But I think what has been important to the manager is getting the shape right and working on our defensive shape,” he said.
While Johnson’s remarks clearly don’t indicate that he imminently wants out, they are indicative of what is a very odd situation at Eastlands.
Even with Manchester City’s vast cache of talent, Johnson still should be a staple in the starting 11, and yet, he often plays less than a third of the match.
Poised to be England’s next big star, one also has to wonder whether or not he wants to play for a big-four team — as big as City may be.
At Anfield, Johnson would surely find himself featuring on the wing with the nation’s most decorated club. It’d be a tough situation to pass up.
For Liverpool, spending big on Johnson would be a no-brainer as well. Not only does he exactly fit the club’s most dire positional need — a natural, pacy wide player — but he’s the kind of signing that would both have an immediate impact and be forward-thinking.
Johnson is currently an elite Premier League player and has the potential to be one of the best players in England and a veritable international superstar.
Investing in a youth system is an integral part of building a future for a club, and Liverpool will be wise to take such an approach. Sometimes, though, you don’t have to mortgage the future for the present. In Johnson, you can buy them both.
