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Emile Heskey has urged his former side Liverpool to pursue the audacious signing of young Chelsea forward Estevao.
Estevao was a bright spark against Manchester United last weekend in what was his first Premier League start of the season.
But outside of that display, the Brazilian has struggled for game time so far this season under Xabi Alonso, with the form of other attackers limiting him to just 134 minutes of playing time in the league.
Reports earlier in the season claimed that the 19-year-old had become frustrated over his lack of playing opportunities under his new boss.
And while Alonso has insisted that Estevao has a bright future ahead of him at Chelsea, Heskey wonders if Liverpool could lure the Brazilian to Anfield with the promise of more regular starts.
‘Estevao would be a great signing for Liverpool,’ he told Eldorado.
‘You look at what he would bring, his drive on the ball and everything, he’s a very tidy player, and that is exactly what Liverpool still miss after losing Mohamed Salah, someone who is more direct.
‘It would put pressure on the other wingers who are great players as well but it ups the ante, and he’d love the chance to get more chances to show what he can do because he’s been out of the reckoning at times for someone of his talent.’
Speaking before Estevao’s start against United last weekend, Alonso insisted that there were no plans for the Brazilian to leave the club on loan in the January transfer window.
‘No discussions about that,’ Alonso said.
‘It’s no secret that all players want to be on the pitch. When any of them haven’t had enough minutes because of my decision, I have to take the responsibility for that.
‘But everyone has to be ready because in any game they could be important. Este, his training and his attitude has been good.’
But former Liverpool captain believes that Estevao could soon prove to be a selection headache for Alonso, particularly when Joao Pedro returns from injury after the international break.
‘He’s exciting. He’s great to watch,’ Gerrard said on The Overlap.
‘Your typical Brazilian, where it’s about flair, it’s about quality, but I really like that he’s very direct. I like that he’s hungry to get shots off.
‘So, he’s desperate to impress the manager. And he’s going to give Xabi a problem when Joao Pedro comes back, because Pedro Neto’s a great player as well, but five doesn’t go into that front four, so it’s going to be interesting.’