Ex-Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle midfielder Dietmar Hamann spoke about all things Premier League in an exclusive interview for Vavel and offered a particular focus on his old club on Merseyside. 

Notably under the microscope were potential transfers, an esteemed ex-teammate, and his other former clubs. 

  • A transfer wish list: midfield the focal point for off-the-pace Liverpool

As has been relatively clear with Jurgen Klopp's side, the intensity has dropped. As Liverpool seemingly drift further into potential mid-table obscurity, a lot of people have pointed to the centre of the park. A midfielder with 191 Premier League appearances for the Reds, Hamann is no different and he already has his eye on one man that could bolster the starting XI.

"Liverpool are 14 or 15 points behind the top of the table now and I don't think that one player makes up that many points. Danny Murphy is right to suggest Declan Rice is a very capable player but I think it depends on how Fabinho comes back into the season because he's been really disappointing but he's a really brilliant player. 

"I would like Liverpool to sign someone a bit more adventurous, someone like Joelinton from Newcastle who has a physical presence can get you a goal and he has the full package. A player like him would suit Liverpool down to the ground."

With that said, and the reputation of FSG among fans, Hamann understands the current situation.

"I think getting a player of his quality in January is near enough impossible and that should've been done in the summer."

Another player Hamann is impressed by, is that of Sunday's opposition Tottenham. Although missing out due to a fracture around his eye, Heung-Min Son would be a more than ideal addition. 

"Son is a brilliant player and he would be a brilliant signing for Liverpool - I'm a big fan of his.


"He's technically very gifted, can finish with both feet and he's a very smart player so he'd be a great signing and should seriously be considered but we know that Liverpool haven't been the biggest spenders and I think Son could cost a bomb.

"If there was an opportunity to sign him, he'd be a great player for Liverpool."

  • Thoughts on Gerrard the gaffer

In Hamann's spell as an Anfield resident between 1999 and 2006, he got his hands on some top silverware - the pick of the bunch being 2005's Champions League triumph. A player that was integral to that victory was of course Steven Gerrard. After Aston Villa parted ways with the Liverpool legend, his German former teammate has suggestions as to where he should head next.

"Steven Gerrard's situation is tricky. He's done well at Rangers and obviously had that setback with Aston Villa now but I think he'll get offered an awful lot of jobs and it's just a question of what opportunities you turn down and how long you turn them down for because when you get an offer you don't know when the next opportunity will come. Steven is in a very delicate and tricky situation right now.

"I'm not sure what expectations Gerrard has but securing another job in the Premier League won't be easy and maybe he should go somewhere abroad for a couple of years or maybe drop down to the Championship."


"I hope to see him back because I think he will become a very good manager and I think we've seen that things at Aston Villa aren't as rosy as they may have looked at the start of the season."

  • Mad about the Magpies

As well as displaying a keen interest towards Liverpool, the 59-times capped German centre-mid keeps tabs on Newcastle United and yet another Brazilian.

"In today's market, if Newcastle were to sell Bruno, they should do so for three figures - you're probably looking at £100m plus.

Darwin Nunez signed for Liverpool for £85m and it wasn't proven that he can score goals in the Premier League whereas Bruno is proving every week what a fantastic player he is against the best players in the world."

Attention moved from midfield to attack at Newcastle, as 'Didi' was keen to praise a member of United's front line that could potentially throw his hat into the ring before the World Cup in Qatar.

"Callum Wilson gives England something different and I think it's important for them to have a player of his physical presence. Teams are allowed to take a squad of 26 and I think he should be there. As it stands, I think he has a good chance of going."

Wilson, 30, has only played four times for the Three Lions, but will definitely have Southgate pondering over an impressive scoring output at St. James'. The former Bournemouth man has six goals in just nine games so far this season, adding to an impressive eight in 18 last season.


Aside from both Liverpool and Newcastle, Dietmar Hamann also played for Manchester City. A side perhaps transformed since he pulled on the light blue shirt, they're wrapped up in yet another title race. As Liverpool have dropped off, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have stepped up. The German offered his evaluation of the Gunners.

"What I will say is that if you finish above Man City after 38 games then I think you'll be Premier League champions. I don't think there will be two teams who will better Man City over the course of a season.

At the moment, Arsenal are the only serious contenders and challengers for City, but it's a huge ask for them to compete with them over the full season. They can do it, but I still think City should be the favourites."

What accelerates Man City's air of inevitability is the recent acquisition of Erling Haaland. Despite a jaw-dropping run of goals, Hamann is on the fence. 

"If you've got a player who scores 40 goals per season then, of course, you're dependent on him. Whether Man City are better off with him in the team we'll have to wait and see at the end of the season because they haven't managed to win the Champions League and that's one of the reasons they signed Haaland."


"Even though Haaland has scored 15 or 16 goals (18 at time of writing) already in the league, I think the jury is still out on whether he has improved Man City in the long term."

Of course, if one man can make sure Haaland's influence isn't just that of personal reward, it's Pep Guardiola. In closing, Hamann offered a concise critique of the respected manager considering a lack of European success. 

"Pep wouldn’t be a failure if he doesn’t win the Champions League with City. Failure is too harsh, but I think if he doesn't win the Champions League then I'd question whether his stay in England has been a success."