When Lucas Leiva was ruled out of action for up to two months, you could almost feel the anguish coming from Anfield from the comfort of your home. The Brazilian has been pivotal to the Reds’ success this season and his presence will certainly be missed for the remainder of the season. Brendan Rodgers hand may be forced somewhat into snapping up a replacement, and according to the Independent that man could be former Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong.
But is he the right player to fill the hole?
The first tick in the box is that he has played, and impressed, in the Premier League, so fitting in shouldn’t be a problem.
Another major positive is his willingness to stay back and disrupt the opposition, allowing Steven Gerrard to push forward and help Philippe Coutinho and the like in the attacking moves.
He is strong, aggressive and frustrates opponents, which is also three ticks to add to his score sheet.
There is certainly no one currently at the club who has the same approach as De Jong, apart from Lucas himself, and although he has been a crucial part of the AC Milan side since his move a few seasons back, with the San Siro side currently struggling and Liverpool fighting towards the top, he may be tempted.
For me, the move seems perfect.
What do you reckon Reds?