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Boro boy to be Rafa's new Stevie G?

cattermole_lee_eng.jpg

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed the growing speculation linking Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez with a summer move for Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole.

The 20-year-old has already won international honours with England at Under-21 level but reports suggest he could be available for as little as £3million.

It's not the first time a young English midfielder has been rumoured to have caught Benitez's eye - the Spaniard is believed to be a big admirer of Manchester City's Michael Johnson. However, Thaksin Shinawatra's billions mean the Eastlands club are in no need to sell and will most likely slap a ridiculous price tag on their prize starlet.

With his bargain price tag, and the 'the next Steven Gerrard' label already doing the rounds, Cattermole certainly seems a suitable alternative.

Would you want him though?

I have to be honest, I've not seen a great deal of the lad. What I have though, I like.

He's eager and energetic and he loves a tackle - and I guess that's where the Gerrard comparisons come from. Admittedly, not unlike a young Stevie, he's far from the finished article. But at 20 who would expect him to be?

If he does make the switch to Anfield he'll fill the age gap between the likes of Gerrard and Xabi Alonso and the 17/18 year olds currently running riot in the youth and academy leagues. In Gerrard, he'd also have the perfect role model.

If the price tag truly is £3million then I don't think Benitez has a great deal to lose so I'm saying yes, I want him. You?

Source: LDP

[Image: Getty]

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Posted by on April 13, 2008 7:43 AM in News| Players
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Comments

ummmmm lucas?

Posted by: bfed | April 13, 2008 8:37 AM

Lightweight Lucas? Cattermole would add some grit.

Posted by: Adam Pies | April 13, 2008 10:13 AM

3mill is a bargain for a young englishman - they usually cost 8mill plus!!
having said that, it will be interesting to see how rafa fits him, gerrard, mascha, xabi, lucas, and of course plessis into the 'rotation' policy.

Posted by: jc | April 13, 2008 10:15 AM

Hmm.. my view as a Boro fan...

Cattermole did look for all the world like the new Steven Gerrard when he burst on to the scene a couple of seasons ago.

He has some of the same attributes, but goalscoring certainly isnt one of them. Lots of energy, commitment and yellow cards. Passing is occasionally good but not consistent enough to be considered a strong point.

Overall I'd take £3m happily for him (although as I don't own his registration I can't really enter negotiations - best off talking to the club).

Posted by: Paul | April 13, 2008 10:33 AM

£3m is a snip. Even if he turns out to be rubbish, we'd probably get double that if we sold him further down the line, given the ridiculous inflation on English players.

Posted by: Pat | April 13, 2008 11:18 AM

looks like he has again overlooked local talent in Jay Spearing unfortunately. Cattermole would remain in the reserves/fringes of squad and serve only to boost the number of English players at the club.

Posted by: mark | April 13, 2008 5:27 PM

Is peter crouch injured? what kind of injury is it? I didn't know that.

Posted by: Laurien | April 13, 2008 6:36 PM

I certainly hope not. I want to see some of the youth in the reserve team come through. His entrance into the side could hinder the development of players like Plessis, Spearing, and even Lucas.

Posted by: David Carragher | April 14, 2008 4:37 AM

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