LIVERPOOL MANAGER BRENDAN RODGERS says he has ‘a thing’ for bringing young players from the area to the club.
The Northern Irishman feels that Merseyside is a hotbed of footballing talent and is determined to keep blooding native Liverpudlians such as Jon Flanagan, Jack Robinson and Martin Kelly.
“My big thing is getting in young players in here from the local area, here in Liverpool, from Liverpool,” Rodgers told the Liverpool website.
“If you look at the history here – the Carragher, the Gerrard, the McManaman, the Fowler, the Owen – and you name me the best two players in England in the last six or seven years?
“Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney – they’re Scousers. One is from that part of the city and the other from that part. So you are not telling me there are not top young talents in Liverpool.
“It is sexy to look in Spain and I am one who loves working with European players and I love working with the talents and all my life I have worked with players from different parts of the world.
“But we mustn’t forget what is on our doorstep and, for me, this is a hotbed for footballers who have a passion, hunger and incredible qualities. That is a massive part of my job and something we are trying to put in place.”
