Liverpool could be about to cancel Leighton Clarkson’s loan spell at Aberdeen and bring him back to Anfield early.
The 21-year-old has been doing well North of the border this season, scoring five goals in 18 games. But in an intriguing twist, the Dons have now brought in a new midfielder on-loan.
As per Football Scotland, Aberdeen have signed Patrik Myslovic from Slovakian club MSK Zilina. In itself, that perhaps doesn’t mean anything. But Zilina manager Karol Belanik’s quotes on the transfer may be of interest to Liverpool fans.
“Aberdeen lost a player in his position, who was also on loan,” Belanik said. “Therefore, he should get the space and it will depend only on him if and how he succeeds. He has the football qualities for it, he can prove it during his half-year loan.”
Liverpool bringing Clarkson back?
As of yet, there is no official announcement of Clarkson returning to Liverpool. But this would seem to suggest that he is.
On the face of it, that would seem like a remarkable decision from the Reds.
Clarkson has been one of Liverpool’s better loan performers this season. His goals have caught the eye on several occasions and he seems to be enjoying his time in Scotland. It’s been the opposite of his short spell at Blackburn Rovers last year, from which then boss Tony Mowbray still called him ‘amazing.’
Of course, the elephant in the room is that Liverpool are desperately in need of midfield improvement. Being a midfielder, perhaps Jurgen Klopp and co have concluded that Clarkson can offer them something for the rest of the season.
But this is a flawed theory. It isn’t as though Liverpool’s midfield crisis is borne out of an injury issues. If this were the case, then bringing back an extra body might make some sense.
Liverpool currently have more than enough players available, though. That isn’t the issue.
Instead, the Reds midfield problem is because of a lack of suitable players. Having only signed one midfielder in five years, Liverpool need something different. They need quality additions who can improve the team straight away.
With the best will in the world, that isn’t Leighton Clarkson. So, unless Liverpool have run into some injury problems that we don’t yet know about, please, keep him where he is.
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