Liverpool Ready To Rescue Stephen Ireland?

Chris Wright

9th, November 2010

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By Chris Wright

It’s all a bit Liverpool-heavy on the rumour wire this morning, but let’s press on regardless.

It seems that the Anfield club are ready to add to their lengthy roster of baldies by making a January move for Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland who, it’s probably fair to say, hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts to his time in the West Midlands after joining Villa from Man City in the summer.

It would appear that new Villa manager Gerard Houllier doesn’t particularly value Ireland’s creative attributes, opting instead for a more prosaic central midfield pairing since finally taking charge at the club in mid-September – with the Irishman making just three Premier League starts under the new regime at Villa Park.

Word is, Liverpool may be willing to gamble on Ireland, who rarely goes away on international duty these days, with anywhere between £8-12 million being mooted as a possible fee.

Question is, whereas Ireland is a considerably gifted schemer on his day (lest we forget that he was City’s Player of the Year not so very long ago) should Liverpool really be chasing yet another attacking midfielder?