Former Liverpool player Jose Enrique says he can’t understand why his old club didn’t sign Leandro Trossard this month.
Trossard was on the market in January, but ended up joining Arsenal from Brighton. Meanwhile, Liverpool bolstered their attack by bringing in Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven.
On the face of it, you’d think Liverpool come out of this one as the winner. But the league table alters perceptions.
Clearly not convinced by Gakpo’s slow start at Anfield, Enrique took to Twitter during Trossard’s full Arsenal debut last night. We’re not sure a goal-less showing at the Etihad warrants this reaction, but each to their own.
Liverpool fine with Gakpo
This is verging on the nonsensical from Enrique. If Liverpool and Arsenal’s positions in the league table were reversed would he be saying the same thing? Almost certainly not.
And whatever way you look at it, neither of these signings have yet done anything to put their clubs in the positions they occupy.
Trossard is no more the reason Arsenal are five points clear than any other non-Gunners player in the Premier League is.
Gakpo has had a little more time to stamp his mark on Liverpool, but he’s only played two league games. Had the Reds signed Trossard instead of him they’d still be sitting in ninth.
So, this is obviously just a reaction borne out of frustration.
Liverpool could have signed Trossard, in fact it’s been reported that they actively chose not to sign him. A couple of decent cameos doesn’t change the fact that this was an entirely justifiable decision.
At twenty-eight, the Belgian is five years older than Gakpo. He’s done well during his time in the Premier League with Brighton, but the £26m sale still somehow feels a little on the high side.
By contrast, Liverpool seem to have got a relative bargain with their 23-year-old Dutchman. Obviously they paid more for him – £35m up front – but considering his age and potential, how can you call that a bad deal? All this kind of talk will only make it sweeter when Cody finally gets firing.
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