Liverpool urged to sign World Cup star as controversial Roy Keane comments branded 'very harsh'
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Phil Thompson says his former club Liverpool are lacking a midfielder like John McGinn, whose goal at the weekend earned Scotland their first World Cup since 1990Liverpool could well look to reinforce their midfield options this summer. And they have been told by one of their greatest players that they could do with a midfielder like World Cup hero John McGinn.McGinn scored the only goal of the game as Scotland, captained by departing Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, beat Haiti 1-0 at the weekend to earn the country's first World Cup win in 36 years.It continued a superb run of form for the Aston Villa skipper, whose brilliant goal sealed his side's 4-2 win over the Reds, and subsequent qualification for the Champions League, at Villa Park on May 15.Five days later and McGinn played a key role as Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final in Istanbul, which secured the club's first piece of major silverware in 30 years.Despite that, the 31-year-old was controversially branded as a "pub player" when things aren't going his way by former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane ahead of the World Cup.Keane said on The Overlap: "He's done brilliant.
But when he has his bad days, he looks like a pub player."When he's off, he looks shocking. If you watch him long enough, and when he's in the team week in, week out, you go, well if all these managers like him... but when he's bad, wow."Keane did balance those comments by adding: "You'd have him in your group, absolutely, and it's no surprise Villa are doing well and he's at the forefront of that." However, he was roundly criticised by Scotland and Villa supporters.McGinn, meanwhile, let his football do the talking as he notched the goal that got Scotland's 2026 World Cup campaign off to a perfect start.And Liverpool legend Phil Thompson admits he would love to have a player with the calibre of the Villa captain at Anfield.Speaking on the BOYLE Sports and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football, the European Cup-winning skipper said: "John McGinn is a player everyone needs."Liverpool don’t have a McGinn in their midfield; someone who demands from others and can give away a needless free-kick as if to say ‘I’m here’."Liverpool don’t have a Jordan Henderson or a James Milner anymore.
His attitude rubs off on his team-mates, and importantly he demands from others."On Roy Keane’s comments, Roy is one of the great players of our time. Influencing games - and not necessarily through skill, but through his passion and commitment to the cause."For Roy to be saying those things about McGinn, I think is very harsh."It would appear unlikely that the Reds would move for McGinn this summer or whether he'd even want to leave Villa.However, the former Hibs man was once on Liverpool's radar after impressing then manager Jurgen Klopp.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!