Midfielder Alberto Aquilani, set to play a key role for Italy in WC 2010. Photo from Teamtalk.

Barely hours after Xabi’s medical at Real Madrid, Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Roma’s Italian international Alberto Aquilani.

The speed in which the events occurred proved that Rafa has not been resting on his laurels – and that the backroom staff has been working hard behind the scenes to beefen up the squad on Alonso’s exit.

It will be good news to many that the whole transfer saga is completed, and the team can get on to working towards the new season.

Much doubt has been cast over Aquilani’s fitness, but results are proven on the pitch, so let’s sit back and enjoy the show!

Xabi Alonso. Image © Liverpoolfc.tv

The saga that started last year when Rafa tried to offload Xabi to Juventus and then Arsenal before failing to land Barry means we are privileged to witness his finest season in a red shirt. As the season comes to close, rumours refuse to go away about Real Madrid wants to sign him and with him being non committal, it just heightens the possibility of him leaving.

To many, it is unthinkable that we’d lose such a talent, someone who could pass the ball 50 yards to the winger or striker’s foot, or how about the 2 goals from inside our half with both feet for each goals?

With stories about him handing in a transfer request, many have resorted to losing him, and began the process of fighting, arguing and justifying on the replacement of Xabi, lately the stories of Lee Cattermole, or as I prefer to call him, Clatter – more and Michael Turner being touted as the 2 players Rafa intend to spend the money on.

Then there’s this story about Rafa trying to get David Villa, which means only one thing, Gerrard back in midfield, which also mean breaking one of the most fruitful partnership in world football.

To me, while Turner and Clatter – more, sorry, Cattermole are good players, they are not what we require, we need someone who can pick up the ball and do what Xabi does, which many hope Aquilani is capable of, he might be good, but Italians tend not to do well in the EPL (still not used to the term BPL), with Zola the only exception), which begs the question, WHO then we should look at?

There is one player though, he’s 27, proven in the league, English, played in all the big games, world cup, Champions League, won the title and heck, he even scored against us a few times. The player I am talking about is Joe Cole, why he is not in the starting lineup of Chelsea, is something only Carlo Ancelotti can answer, but to me, he’ll be the perfect person to replace Xabi.

Joe Cole - the answer?

Lining up alongside Javier, slightly forward, just behind Gerrard, he would be able to do the same thing that Xabi does, the only difference is that Xabi passes there, and he’ll bring the ball there, himself! and the same time carving out chances for himself or team mates. Many would argue that he is not consistent enough, but he is, and if he is allowed to express himself, play the way he knows, being creative and hurt the opposition where it hurts.

For ages we have been crying out for someone like him, not less when we were drawing games at home and everyone was praying for Xabi to recover from his injury quickly. Joe Cole can do the same thing, but only more, he’d attract attention to himself, thus freeing up space to the others to exploit and do the damage, he can also dribble his way out of trouble for he is the most creative English player the EPL has seen since Gazza. Playing alongside Javier will also be good as Joe Cole has a reputation of not tracking back, but does Charlie Ronaldo track back? What about Robinho? Or Kaka? Or Messi? I am not saying that he is in the same league of those players, but the thing is that creative players do what they do best, create, and with a good DM alongside them, it’ll be godsend as they would not have to worry if they lose the ball. It would allow them to flourish, to help to the cause.

I have been thinking that since Xabi is going, why not replace him with someone who can dribble? Someone who can bring the ball up and cause havoc with it, while the ball is glued to his feet? That would change our way of playing a bit and certainly offers another option where we would be able to open up the opposition’s defence more. While Xabi passes it long, Joe Cole could bring it up there and perhaps do more.

Think about it, Javier mopping up, passing to Cole who beat 2 or 3 players before passing to either Gerrard or Torres to finish the move. That would be a sight to behold. And how many of you would pay money to see that? It’s clearly that he’ll be a bit part player with Fat Frank hogging the limelight at Chelski alongside Ballack and Mikel, now with the rumours of Andrea Pirlo wanting to join them, surely he’ll be a bit part player at best, or an impact sub. Why settle for that when he can have the centre stage at Anfield where he’ll be loved, and most importantly, appreciated.

He has been the most creative English player for years, but failed to live up to the hype because time and again managers tried to drum into him that he needs to cut out the fancy Dan stuff, but it is the fancy Dan stuff that beats the player, carve up an opening in tight matches where teams park their bus in their penalty box, as seen with many team do at Anfield.

The only thing is that whether Chelski would let him go, and whether the board would sanction such a move and more importantly, does Rafa rate him as the replacement for Xabi? I think a bid of between 15 – 18 Million should get him, a much better player than Clatter – more, and one that would not need bedding in and go straight into the first team. He could be as important a signing to us as Eric Cantona or Charlie Ronaldo to the Mancs.

So highly I rate him that I would go on and say we would be able to do the League and CL double if we get him and keep them injury free. Now we need to get this across to Rafa and hopefully he listens, so anyone with Rafa benitez in his facebook, please PM him and inform him of that. Just don’t give him the number 7 shirt – I think it’s jinxed. Give it to a kid, where they’d play without pressure, or best, retire it, that one, is for another day.

Jonno ®