According to reports, Liverpool are leading the race to sign Fabian Delph as his Aston Villa contract enters its final six months.
Once regarded as one of the brightest prospects in English football, the midfielder has been plying his trade in the Midlands since Villa lure him from Leeds United in the summer of 2009. At the time Delph was being hunted by a number of Premier League rivals, with Everton, Fulham, Manchester City, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur all thought to be keen on him.
The 25-year-old has gone on to make 93 appearances for Villa in all competitions, scoring six goals, and his performances earned him his first full England cap in a friendly against Norway in September of this year. Having produced an impressive display after coming off the bench in the 1-0 win, he was handed his first star when Roy Hodgson’s side beat Switzerland five days later.
With his contract at Villa Park set to expire at the end of the current season, it is no surprise that Delph has been the subject of much speculation ahead of the January transfer window. And according to The Mirror, it is Liverpool who are currently leading the chase for his signature, as Brendan Rodgers supposedly sees him as a long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard.
The Reds skipper, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, is out of contract in the summer, and whilst it was initially expected that he would be offered fresh terms, this is no longer considered a certainty. Rodgers, who will have cash to spend when the window reopens, may choose to bid for Delph in January, despite the fact that the player will become a free agent at the end of the campaign.
Does Delph have the potential to replace Gerrard in the Liverpool midfield? Let us know what you think by joining in with the discussion below.
