Can Jordan Ibe replace Sterling at Liverpool?

In this artilce, Goal.com writer, Ed Dove carefully pens the prospects that makes him tell Liverpool FC and fans alike, to forget Marco Reus; Jordon Ibe can replace Raheem Sterling at Liverpool. Does Brendan Rodgers already have a ready-made replacement in his ranks?

When Raheem Sterling finally completed his £49 million transfer to Manchester City, one of the major transfer sagas of the summer came to an end.

However, while Brendan Rodgers has finally offloaded his troubled forward—a player who regrettably took the attention away from Steven Gerrard’s finally week as an active Liverpool player, before overshadowing the majority of the club’s summer signings—the story is only half complete for the Reds.

While Roberto Firmino has arrived at the club from Hoffenheim, the Northern Irish coach has insisted that the Brazilian forward—who largely operated centrally in the Bundesliga—is no replacement for Sterling.

The club look set to spend the majority of the Sterling windfall on Christian Benteke, having met the forward’s £32.5 million release clause to liberate him from Aston Villa.

However, while the Belgian may go someway to replacing the goal threat that Liverpool lost when Luis Suarez was sold to Barcelona, he will be in no position to replace the menace Sterling contributed in wide areas.

Several players have been linked with a move to Anfield to potentially fill the void left by the troubled 21-year-old.

One long-mooted option is Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, who has fallen behind Sterling in the England pecking order, and who has also become something of a peripheral figure at the Emirates Stadium.

World Cup-winning forward Pedro has also emerged as a potential replacement, particularly once his exceptionally reasonable release clause was confirmed. However, would the 27-year-old consider a step down from Barcelona from Anfield, particularly considering the Merseysiders cannot offer him Champions League football?

A third option, and one whose future has come under the spotlight over the last few days, is Borussia Dortmund winger Marco Reus.

The German international would be an upgrade on Sterling, and if he can overcome the injury concerns that have occasionally affected his progress over the last few seasons, could be a genuine difference-maker for the Reds.

It’s unlikely that Liverpool will have any success with Reus, however, with Real Madrid supposedly keen on the 26-year-old. When Florentino Perez gets a target in his sights, he rarely relinquishes his grip until another new Galactico is being paraded before the Merengues fans.

It’s becoming a little hard to see how Liverpool will replace the menace out wide that will be lost with the departure of Sterling.

Daniel Sturridge’s continued injury concerns—he’s set to be out until October (at least)—and Lazar Markovic’s inability to demonstrate almost any redeeming qualities make it hard to find too many adequate replacements in the squad as it stands, particularly when the likes of Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and James Milner all prefer central berths.

In this context, Jordan Ibe could take almost messianic qualities in the eyes of Brendan Rodgers.

While the departure of Sterling may have thrown the Reds into disarray, it could prove to be the making of Ibe, who may emerge as the chief beneficiary of the England man’s departure and the Merseysiders’ key outlet down the right hand side.

The player certainly thinks so, and speaking to the Daily Star, has backed himself to effectively replace the departed pariah.

“Football is about chances,” the Anglo-Nigerian began.

“Raheem is a great player but hopefully now I will get a chance to play and prove to the manager that I can play in the Premier League.”

Rodgers too has backed the youngster to step up and ease the transition into a post-Sterling future.

“He’s still very young, still 19 years of age… but I think you see the potential,” the Northern Irish coach began, speaking to the Mirror.

“It’s just [about] him continually working hard at his game. He’s still got a way to go for that consistency but I think everyone sees that potential.

“Jordon is a very exciting talent and we’ll manage him individually,” the manager continued, “because it’s not the same for everyone. He’s his own player and we need to manage him and what’s best for him and the team.”

Rodgers also indicated that he may have a role for Ibe in the centre of the park, although quite where the player fits in among Liverpool’s other options for a central creative spot is hard to ascertain.

“I’ve played him in the No.10 [role]… I’ve had a little look at him in there and I think he could maybe play that role as well,” the former Swansea City boss concluded.

“But I think he is a natural winger that likes to be on the outside. He’s happy to be in the duel and likes to set up the one vs one. His best position will be on the wing, for sure.”

The wideman demonstrated his ability to make an impact with his pace and direct running in a recent pre-season friendly against Brisbane Roar, when he opened up the contest in the second period and played a role in Milner’s winner.

He was arguably even more impressive against Adelaide United, showing poise on the ball, and that remarkable Sterling-esque ability to pivot in possession, shuffle his orientation in a split second and dart away from a floundering defender.

There were some parallels with Patroclus, the cousin of Achilles, who donned the armour of his warrior uncle and fought the Spartans with the tenacity and the agility of the Greek hero. If you squinted…you could almost be duped into believing it was Sterling, and not Ibe, that you were watching in Australia.

For Ibe to replace Sterling, he would not only need to begin to replicate the forward’s tangible contribution last term—seven goals and seven assists in the Premier League—but also provide the kind of explosiveness and invention with which the England international enthralled the Kop.

On this point, Ibe may prove to be the answer Rodgers has been looking for.

 

Credits: goal.com