According to ultra reliable source James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, we are ‘closing in on a £4.7million deal for Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius.’
The 22-year-old has starred in the Bundesliga this season, and interestingly was an Academy prospect at Manchester City before they released him in 2011.
The report states that Jurgen Klopp has had scouts watching the German youth international all season long, and they’ve been adequately impressed to seal a deal early this summer.
£4.7m is chicken feed in today’s transfer market, and represents a real coup – considering Karius’s talent and potential to improve.
What’s most interesting is that we’ve chosen to sign a goalkeeper who will compete with Simon Mignolet for the no.1 jersey rather than replace him.
For too long we’ve had either Brad Jones or Adam Bogdan as his backup, neither of whom could realistically start between the sticks for Liverpool. Karius will genuinely battle the Belgian, who signed a five-year contract extension, for the position – and perhaps this is what’s needed to push Mignolet (and hopefully Karius) onto the next level.
If Mignolet does commit early blunders next term, there’s an exciting prospect, as well as young Welshman Danny Ward, waiting in the wings.