They may have recently acquired tough-tackling Javier Mascherano for £17million, but the Daily Mail have reported that Liverpool are also in the hunt for Middlesbrough’s Lee Cattermole. The 19-year-old has already played 85 games for the north-east club, although surely Boro will be keen to hang on to the likes of Wheater and Cat rather than slapping a price tag on them and selling them off to the highest bidder?
Benitez is believed to admire Cattermole’s tough-tackling approach and, wary of the need for an even bigger squad next season when he will be able to name seven substitutes, the Spanish manager appears keen to add some young, British talent to his multi-national squad.
Talismanic captain Steven Gerrard, 27, has about five years left before his legs will bring an end to his box-to-box game and Cattermole could use that time to learn from – and eventually fill the boots of – the England star.
The thought of a bigger squad and an even greater degree of rotation probably pleases Benitez greatly! The problem for Liverpool and other Premier League clubs is that any players want to enjoy first team football on a regular basis, something that’s proving increasingly difficult to guarantee.