---
title: "Liverpool: Lewis Cook is still seen as a potential successor to James Milner"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-lewis-cook-is-still-seen-as-a-potential-successor-to-james-milner/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2019-09-18T20:00:32Z"
modified: "2019-09-18T20:00:32Z"
---

# Liverpool: Lewis Cook is still seen as a potential successor to James Milner

**Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook remains of interest to Liverpool, whose recruitment team are set to keep close tabs on him with an eye to a possible move to Anfield.**

[![Premiership Picks](https://cdn.footballleagueworld.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Premiership-Picks-Desktop.png)](https://premierpicks.uk/)

[Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-liverpool-set-sights-on-pl-22-yr-old-as-potential-milner-replacement/) reported that the Reds have maintained their interest in the 22-year-old, having been on the radar last year prior to an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee.

According to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-liverpool-set-sights-on-pl-22-yr-old-as-potential-milner-replacement/), Liverpool view Cook as a player who has the attitude, energy and pedigree to replace James Milner in midfield, with the 33-year-old out of contract at Anfield at the end of this season as things stand.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Cook joined Bournemouth from Leeds for an initial £6m in 2016, according to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-liverpool-set-sights-on-pl-22-yr-old-as-potential-milner-replacement/), and had made [56 appearances for the club prior to](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lewis-cook/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/249089) his [cruciate ligament injury against Huddersfield last December](https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/first-team/injury-news-lewis-cook-closer-to-return).

His form for the Cherries saw him [given an England call-up in November 2017](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41950285) and his [senior international debut four months later](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43466395), having [captained his country to triumph at the Under-20 World Cup the previous summer](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/england-u20-world-cup-win-future-success-a7784841.html).

He made his [comeback from injury](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lewis-cook/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/249089/verein/989) by playing 77 minutes against Everton last weekend, in which he won one tackle, made two interceptions and had a 76.5% passing success rate. \[[via WhoScored.com](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1375963/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Bournemouth-Everton)\]

In 13 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth last season, he recorded match averages of 0.4 successful aerial duels, one tackle, 0.6 interceptions, 0.2 key passes and 30.2 passes, with 83.2% accuracy in his ball distribution. \[[via WhoScored.com](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/136456/History/Lewis-Cook)\]

Cook is [mainly a central midfielder but is a versatile player who has frequently been deployed on the right-hand side of midfield](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lewis-cook/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/249089), just like [Milner](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333).

The Liverpool man has had just [244 minutes of gametime so far this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333), having played [2,836 minutes in 2018/19](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333), [starting 29 matches in the Premier League and Champions League](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/4511/History/James-Milner).

In 2019/20 thus far, Milner has match averages of 0.6 successful aerial duels, 0.8 tackles, 0.2 interceptions, 0.6 key passes and 28.6 passes, with 85.1% ball distribution accuracy. \[[via WhoScored.com](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/4511/Show/James-Milner)\]

While he trumps Cook for passing accuracy and frequency in comparison to the latter’s figures from last season, the Bournemouth man posted better ball-winning figures than Milner has managed so far this term.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Cook may be more adept than Milner at breaking up play, but Liverpool already have a player in Fabinho who excels in this regard – the [Brazil international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fabinho/profil/spieler/225693) has averaged [3.2 successful tackles per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/115916/Show/Fabinho) this season.

Also, the Bournemouth man has offered very little in terms of goal contributions, with [no goals and just three assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lewis-cook/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/249089) in his time with the Cherries.

Even if Milner departs Anfield upon the expiry of his contract, Cook doesn’t seem like a midfield player who will atone for the veteran’s weaker aspects while bringing something to the team that Liverpool don’t already have.

***Liverpool fans, do you think Cook would be an ideal successor to Milner at Anfield? Have your say in the comments section below!***