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Liverpool’s impressive run to the Champions League final gave the fans a lot of optimism for some long awaited silverware for the club. However, two mistakes from goalkeeper Loris Karius proved very costly for the side and the Reds had to settle for the runners up medals.
Ever since the departure of Pepe Reina in 2013, the club have struggled to find a reliable keeper. Simon Mignolet was given an extended run, but never managed to convince with his performances.
Klopp brought in young Karius for a low fee, and the German keeper did try to repay the manager’s faith with some solid performances in the latter half of the 2017-18 season after a rather shaky start to his Liverpool career.
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Mignolet and Danny Ward are set to leave this summer in search for regular football, which means that the club was always in the market for a new keeper. And post the horror show in Kiev, it’s almost certain that Liverpool will look to have a new face between the sticks at the start of next season.
The big money investment in Virgil van Dijk has paid rich dividends, with the team’s defence suddenly looking a lot more assured. Experts and fans both believe that the club should do the same in their search for a new keeper and not hold back on splashing big to get a proven world class player.
We look at some of the options that Klopp and Liverpool’s transfer team would be assessing as they look to strengthen the first-team in a position which is arguably the team’s weakest link right now.
#1 Jan Oblak
It is believed that the Atletico Madrid keeper has a release clause of £87 million in his contract, and many fans feel that Liverpool shouldn’t look any further beyond the widely-admired Slovenian international who is considered to be among the top goalkeepers in the world.
While reports suggest that Atletico are trying to offer Oblak an improved deal which also doubles his release clause, the 25-year-old keeper has been coy whenever asked about his plans to sign the new contract.
The fact that Atletico are also believed to be scouting for Oblak replacements will further encourage his potential suitors.
With PSG also reported to be monitoring Oblak’s situation, Liverpool fans will want their club to move swiftly and pay up the amount required to get the keeper.
#2 Alisson Becker
The AS Roma keeper has been linked with Liverpool for a while, with manager Jurgen Klopp believed to be a keen admirer.
Similar to Atletico, Roma are aware that their keeper is likely to be on the move this summer, and have started looking for potential replacements, and placed an asking fee of around £79 million for Alisson.
The 25-year-old keeper has impressed for Roma this season, especially in their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The fact that he starts ahead of highly-rated Ederson Moraes (of Manchester City – currently the most expensive keeper) for the Brazilian national team further enhances his reputation.
It was reported after the Champions League final that Liverpool had shortlisted Oblak and Alisson as their top two targets for the goalkeeper position.
With a host of other teams, including Real Madrid, known to be interested in signing Alisson, along with the likelihood of his stock increasing after the World Cup, Liverpool will want to finalize the keeper’s signature soon if they identify him as the player they want as their new number one goalkeeper.
#3 Kepa Arrizabalaga
The 23-year-old keeper has been linked to a move to Real Madrid in the past and is currently reported to being scouted by Atletico Madrid as a potential replacement for Oblak.
Kepa signed a new contract earlier this year with Athletic Bilbao which includes a release clause of around £70 million.
In the scenario of Liverpool not being able to get either Oblak or Alisson, they may want to explore the option of signing the young Spaniard, who has been widely tipped to be David De Gea’s successor in the national team in the future.
#4 Keylor Navas
If Real Madrid do manage to sign a new goalkeeper in the summer, it is likely to mean that the incumbent Keylor Navas will be available on the market.
The 31-year-old Costa Rican would offer a wealth of experience, having played at the top level, under high-pressure situations as well. Something that can definitely improve Liverpool’s defence and solve their long-standing goalkeeper dilemma.
There have been reports of Klopp wanting to signing Navas earlier this year, and the manager could revisit the interest if the keeper is made available for sale by his club.
#5 Jasper Cillessen
The 29-year-old Dutch goalkeeper who was Louis van Gaal’s first choice in the 2014 World Cup has been at Barcelona for 2 years but has made only a handful number of appearances.
There have been reports in recent days linking Cillessen to Liverpool, and the keeper will definitely be itching for more first team action after playing second-fiddle to Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the Nou Camp.
Cillessen will be an upgrade to Karius, and with his experience of playing at the top level as well as desire to prove himself to be a regular starter at a top club, he could be the answer for Klopp’s team’s goalkeeping woes.
#6 Thibaut Courtois
Chelsea’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League, along with question marks over future involvement of owner Roman Abramovich at the club has prompted doubts over the future of their goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.
While there was some buzz linking Liverpool to the keeper, it is a known fact that Courtois will prefer a move to Madrid because of family reasons, and both Madrid clubs are likely to be in the market for a new goalkeeper.
However if the opportunity arises, Liverpool won’t hesitate in trying to bring in the Belgian goalkeeper to replace an outgoing Belgian (Mignolet).
#7 Gianluigi Donnarumma
The highly-rated teenager has long been subject to a lot of transfer speculation linking him to many top European clubs.
With AC Milan missing out on Champions League qualification yet again, it isn’t improbable that the 19 year old Donnarumma who has already made more than 100 senior appearances might seek a move away from Milan.
Klopp hasn’t hesitated from promoting young talent , with the progress made by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the previous season being a good example.
And he could decide to place his faith in the young Italian and appoint him the new number one goalkeeper at Liverpool.
#8 Jack Butland
Liverpool appeared to be the favourites to sign Butland after Stoke’s relegation from the Premier League.
But that was before the Champions League final, and Butland could probably have been a target to provide competition for Loris Karius, rather than instantly replacing him.
The England international would also have helped the club fill in one of the slots for the required homegrown quota in the Premier League, which would have been handy with the expected departure of some English players (Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings among others).
Butland however remains a good option for a lower price, with his experience in the Premier League and playing for England.
