Liverpool Summer Transfer Window: 10 Replacements for Stewart Downing

Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has been a failure so far. 

He’s gone 49 shots and counting without scoring a goal in the Premier League. 

Averaging 0.7 successful dribbles per game is part of the reason why he’s yet to provide a Premier League assist. 

With future world class winger Xherdan Shaqiri moving to Bayern Munich, Liverpool will have to look to other alternatives to replace Downing.

Here are 10 potential summer transfer replacements for the misfiring Englishman. 

Pablo Armero, Left Wing-Back, Udinese

Francesco Guidolin's 3-5-2 formation extracts the most out of Pablo Armero's hyperactivity. 

Armero soars up and down the left flank, either chasing opposing wingers or getting past opposing right-backs.

Armero has been on fire since the new year, providing five assists in five games. 

Jefferson Montero, Left Winger, Real Betis (on Loan from Villarreal)

Three years ago, Villarreal let some unknown Ecuadorian winger called Antonio Valencia go—what a mistake that turned out to be. 

The Spanish club currently have trickster Jefferson Montero on their books.

However he can't get into the starting lineup, hence why he's been loaned out to Real Betis. 

Montero has no issues jinking his way past defenders, but he does have an issue producing the end product.

It's no surprise that he only completes 69.4 percent of his passes. Therefore, signing Montero would be a leap of faith.

That being said, Montero is raw and at 22 years of age, he does have time to progress into a more polished winger. 

Scott Sinclair, Left Winger, Swansea City

Chelsea never gave Scott Sinclair a fair chance after his metatarsal injury, caused by a Wes Brown tackle in a 0-0 draw against Manchester United.

Some remember that game due to José Mourinho's rant at referee Graham Poll or Dong Fangzhuo's only start. 

I remember it because my heart sank for Sinclair. 

Years later, he has lived up to the hype—albeit at Swansea City instead of Chelsea. 

Trust Brendan Rodgers, a former Chelsea staffer, to revive Sinclair's career. 

Ironically, Chelsea now need someone like Sinclair, who can inject some pace. 

There's a lot to like about Sinclair: pacey, good dribbler and can consistently find the back of the net.  

And he'd be a cheaper and younger upgrade from Stewart Downing. 

Alessio Cerci, Right Forward, Fiorentina

A tip of the hat to David Moyes for almost signing Alessio Cerci during the January transfer window. 

Cerci played well under SiniŠa Mihajlović's 4-3-3 as a right forward. The Italian would beat the full-back and seemingly always pass the ball to Stevan Jovetić. 

Since the departure of Mihajlović, Cerci has become a square peg in the round hole that is Delio Rossi's 3-5-2 formation, in which the width is provided by the wing-backs, who were previously the full-backs. 

Even though Cerci hasn't played much under Rossi, he's still sixth in the league in terms of completed dribbles per game. 

Julian Draxler, Left Attacking Midfielder, Schalke

Schalke are sitting on a gold mine and they know it—well...they should know it. 

Real Madrid paid only €15 million to sign Mesut Özil from Werder Bremen (the German was going to run down his contract). 

Borussia Dortmund forfeited the Bundesliga's best player in Nuri Şahin to Real Madrid for a pathetic €10 million (Dortmund had included an outdated release clause). 

The point is, Liverpool need to exploit any loopholes in Julian Draxler's contract. 

He was so devoted to football that he dropped out of high school just to prove how hungry he was to be a professional football. This kid, and he's only 18, is already one of the most potent dribblers in the Bundesliga. 

In three seasons time, provided he continues to progress and he's injury free, he'll be a world-class footballer. 

Junior Hoilett, Left Winger, Blackburn Rovers

Junior Hoilett is the only Premier League player to average three successful dribbles or more per game. 

Damien Comolli must sign Hoilett because the Canadian's contract expires in the summer. 

Ezequiel Lavezzi, Left Forward, Napoli

Ezequiel Lavezzi is one of the best dribblers in world football. 

The Argentine will humiliate José Bosingwa so badly that the Portuguese defender will need to spend some considerable time lying on the couch. 

Lavezzi has a chance to prove his worth if he can produce a world-class performance against Chelsea in 11 days time. 

Mathieu Valbuena, Attacking Midfielder, Marseille

This season, Mathieu Valbuena has played as a right winger, a left winger, an attacking midfielder and even as a forward. 

He's so versatile that he can play any attacking position and still produce the goods.

That last-minute goal against Borussia Dortmund sent Marseille into the UEFA Champions League round of 16. 

Gökhan Töre, Right Winger, Hamburg

Surely, it's Lionel Messi that averages the most completed dribbles per game...right? 

Nope. 

It's Chelsea reject Gökhan Töre, who completes an absurd 6.3 dribbles per game. 

Whoever thought this kid wasn't good enough to make it at Chelsea needs to get fired. 

André Schürrle, Left Winger, Bayer Leverkusen

André Schürrle is a great dribbler, has good vision, is an intelligent footballer, works hard in defence and produces the end product.

In a nutshell, he's a well-rounded footballer, and he's just 21 years old. 

Schürrle is my No. 1 replacement for Stewart Downing because he can succeed in the Premier League as a left winger. 

If Liverpool were to change their formation from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3, Schürrle could be world class as a wide forward. 

Please read 10 Most Unfair Football Red Cards in Recent Memory. 

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