Lawro insists: It'll be 'strange' if BR ignores £7m star this summer. Good enough?

After conceding 50 goals in the Premier League, it's clear that Liverpool's biggest priority this summer is to tighten up the club's backline, and that almost certainly means bringing-in 2-3 top quality defensive players. Liverpool are currently linked with a whole host of defenders, and if Brendan Rodgers signs another top class central defender, where does that leave £7m summer signing Tiago Ilori? After a year on loan, the Portuguese youngster must surely be an option, and Reds legend Mark Lawrenson believes he could come back into the fold.

In his column for the Liverpool Echo this week, Lawro suggested that Ilori could 'make his mark' at Anfield next season, and noted:

"I’m told Liverpool believe he can train-on and has benefited from regular football. It would seem strange if Ilori isn’t involved with the squad during pre-season"

Damn right it will be 'strange'. At this stage, Ilori - like Alberto and Aspas - is a waste of money, and if he isn't regularly involved in the first team next season, then he will go down as yet another Rodgers transfer flop.

That may sound harsh, but it's not not really about talent. By all accounts, Ilori has pace and ability, but if he's not being used by the manager, then what's the point of having him at LFC?

If - as so many Reds fans argue - Ilori is so good, then there's no reason to send him on loan again next season. Indeed, with Liverpool's defence in disarray, now is clearly the right time to give him a chance to establish a regular place in the first team.

And please don't give me the 'but he's only young' excuse. If you're good enough, you're old enough. Sterling, Flanagan, and Coutinho - all similar ages to Ilori - are proof of that, and they all play regular first-team football.

As I argued last summer, Rodgers made a huge mistake signing both Ilori and Sakho. With the reduced number of games, this created unfair competition in central defence, and led to Ilori being farmed out on loan, and Agger ending the season 'frustrated and irritated' at his bit-part status.

Overall, it's pretty simple: if Rodgers has faith in Ilori, he will put him in the first team squad this summer and play him next season. If LFC sign another first-team central defender, however, and send Ilori on loan again, that will basically be tantamount to a massive vote of no-confidence in the Portuguese's ability to make it at LFC.

With Liverpool back in the Champions League, I just can't see Rodgers putting his trust in a player with no European/Premier League experience.

Author: Jaimie K