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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Mark Jones

"He's coming!" Ian Wright approves Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool midfield plan for next season

Liverpool's planned summer rebuild may not need to be as all-encompassing as had previously appeared if recent form is anything to go by, and it also seems to have the backing of Ian Wright.

The Reds are building up towards a strong finish to the season having followed up draws against Chelsea and Arsenal with three successive wins over Leeds, Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

They will soon face three home games in a week against Tottenham, Fulham and Brentford, after which they will hope to be a little bit closer to the Premier League's top four.

Their most recent win at London Stadium on Wednesday saw them come from behind to beat West Ham, who saw Lucas Paqueta's fine early strike cancelled out by Cody Gakpo before Joel Matip's second half winner.

Academy graduate Curtis Jones was making his fifth successive start for the Reds in that game, and he impressed as Liverpool wrestled control of the midfield to eventually assert their dominance.

Klopp was asked about Jones at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's visit of Spurs, and says he's pleased with his progress after an injury-hit period.

"He's played five in a row but it didn't look like that would be possible because of a freakish injury, we've been super careful with him," said Klopp.

Curtis Jones impressed against West Ham (Getty Images)

"He couldn't train a full week because we were in Europe and didn't train properly if you like. He's been really good.

"It's always like this with academy players, people fancy big transfers so if a young player plays good football people say: 'that's OK but I'd rather bring him or him in'. He is only in the squad because he has real quality. He is safe on the ball, defending well."

Jones' sudden emergence as a regular Liverpool starter could end up having a knock-on effect on the Reds' transfer plans this summer, although it looks fairly certain as though at least two, and possibly three, midfield players will come through the doors at Anfield.

Wright heaped praise on the Liverpool midfielder (Getty Images)

Does Curtis Jones have a long-term future at Liverpool? Have your say in the comments

The Reds have backed out of a move for the England international Jude Bellingham due to concerns over the price of a potential deal and how long it could take, but they remain keen on several names including Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch and Chelsea's Mason Mount.

Wright will hope any arrival doesn't stand in the way of Jones though, and he praised both him and Gakpo on the Ringer Podcast Network.

"Curtis Jones. He's coming ladies and gents!" said Wright.

"Like he said when the Hulk got shot down, Thanos is coming. Curtis Jones is coming, but Cody Gakpo...

"I watched him in some tight areas [against West Ham] and there with his one-touch play and everything. With his link-up play, he's an absolute elite player."

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