Former England striker Kevin Phillips has backed Liverpool to sign a proven centre-forward in the summer transfer market, forcing Rhian Brewster to leave Anfield on loan.
Brewster departed Merseyside in January and joined Swansea City on a half-season loan deal to aid the Jacks’ hopes of earning promotion out of the Championship and returning to the Premier League.
The 20-year-old would play a huge role under Swans boss Steve Cooper during his time at the Liberty Stadium, with Brewster starting 21 of his 22 appearances in which he found the back of the net 11 times.
Swansea’s efforts at securing promotion came to a halt in the Play-Off Semi-Finals against Brentford, however, with Brewster’s second-leg goal not enough to secure a date with Fulham at Wembley.
Cooper’s side would have fallen further short of securing promotion without Brewster’s goals, with the England U21 international ending the regular season with four goals in the final six games as Swansea landed the final Play-Off spot on goal difference.
Yet Phillips doubts Brewster has done enough to impress Jurgen Klopp and expects the German will run the rule over the young prospect in pre-season, but ultimately send the London-born forward out on loan and favour signing a proven striker.
“It is a tough one,” Phillips told Football Insider. “I heard Klopp say that he is still undecided as to whether his younger players go out on loan. I think he will make that judgement in pre-season. He will assess Brewster during two or three pre-season games.
“If Liverpool bring another striker in then Brewster would go back out on loan for another season, and I suspect Liverpool will bring another forward in.
“I think he will go back out on loan, another year of development and at the end of next season he comes back to push into that first-team.”
Should Klopp send Brewster out on loan again?
Yes
No
Another season on loan could do Brewster the world of good in securing his long-term future at Anfield, having thus far only played three times under Klopp between the FA Cup and League Cup.
If the 20-year-old is able to replicate his form with Swansea over a full campaign, potentially at a lower-half Premier League side rather than in the Championship, then he would have more of a case to put forward and take a prominent place in the Liverpool line-up.
Prolonged success and regular minutes could also prove beneficial for Liverpool even if Klopp ultimately decides Brewster does not have what it takes to make it on Merseyside, as the Reds will then be able to demand a higher transfer fee for the currently £4.86million-rated talent.