Grujic and Wilson show the importance of good loan deals
Liverpool youngsters Marko Grujic and Harry Wilson have shown the importance of good loan deals.
Wilson’s case is a little different from Grujic’s because of the time he spent out with a serious knee injury, but the main point is still valid: youngsters need time on the pitch. There is no point keeping them as backup squad players.
Both of these promising footballers secure moves away from the Reds during the January transfer window, and both are now getting regular minutes under their belt. As a reward, both were included in their national squads for the most recent round of international friendlies.
While Wilson jetted off to China to take part in Wales’s games against their host nation and Uruguay, Grujic featured for Serbia against Morocco and Nigeria.
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But on the home front is where they’ve actually impressed the most. Cardiff City took the Serb on loan and he’s been a key part of their push for promotion, playing 679 minutes of football across nine league games – that’s more than he’s ever played for Liverpool!
While Wrexham born Wilson has scored three times in six appearances for Hull City, and would have played more if it weren’t for a shoulder injury.
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Taken together, performances like the two youngsters have put in allow them to be selected for higher honours which give them a taste of a better standard of football. Should they perform well on both these levels, it’ll give manager Jurgen Klopp a better indication of their Premier League readiness.
More regular football is key in anyone’s development, which is why its surprising that Ben Woodburn wasn’t allowed to leave on loan. It’s true that Philippe Coutinho’s departure does leave a squad weakness on the left-hand side, but this could have been covered with some creative thinking.
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But for now we’ll have to take pride in the fact that youngsters are taking their chances when it’s offered, being handed an opportunity on the world stage and are making a case to be the next starlet who breaks into the first team.