Loris Karius would miss first three weeks of Liverpool’s 2016-17 season

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Liverpool appear to be closing in on the signing of Loris Karius, with Sky Sports reporting that the Mainz goalkeeper is on Merseyside to complete his transfer to Anfield.

According to Sky Sports, the 22-year-old will spend the next few days in Liverpool undergoing a medical. Personal terms have already been agreed ahead of his £4.7m switch.

SEE MORE: Loris Karius: Goalkeeper to undergo medical & sign for Liverpool in next few days

Karius is being brought in to provide greater competition for Simon Mignolet, but the prospective new arrival is unlikely to be available for the first three weeks of Liverpool’s season.

Sky Sports understands that Karius is expected to be named in Germany’s squad for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, which can include no more than three players over the age of 23.

The ‘soccer’ programme in Brazil starts on August 3rd and finishes on August 20th – the penultimate day of the Games. Karius is then likely to be given a holiday and time to recuperate, which means that he could miss Liverpool’s opening few Premier League games of the campaign.

This would give Mignolet, who was blighted by inconsistency this term, the first chance to stake his claim to be Jurgen Klopp’s number-one goalkeeper, with Danny Ward as deputy.

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