New contract for Simon Mignolet – on Jurgen Klopp’s special request

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The Echo are reporting that our shot stopper Simon Mignolet is set to put pen to paper on a new deal before the January transfer window.

As we reported at the time, it was first speculated that a new contract was in the offing a couple of weeks ago, and it now looks like those preliminary discussions have been positive.

It is understood that the new deal has come at Klopp’s request – according to the Echo he has been badgering our Chief Executive Ian Ayre about the situation since he first learned the Belgian only had 2.5 years left on his deal.

He stood by Mignolet after the keeper’s horror-show against West Brom at the weekend – with most fans believing he could have done better for one of the Baggies’ goals.

“I want a keeper who comes out and tries everything, with 20 players around him, he tried but didn’t get the ball for the first goal” he said.

“It’s really difficult in England because there is no-one to protect goalkeepers. There’s nothing to say negative about Simon.”

He even went as far as describing Mignolet as “one of the best keepers I’ve ever had” when pressed on speculation linking us to a new number one.

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The question is – should we keep Mignolet? That debate really comes back to looking at who else is available – and the answer is “not much”.

We are not in a position to sign one of the world’s best, and some of the best young English keepers have been priced out of the market. Mark Hughes, for example, suggested that not even £20 million would be enough to lure young prospect Jack Butland away from Stoke (via BBC).

Surely our best option is to look abroad and try and buy one of the best under 21s from Italy, Spain, or Germany, and send them out loan to get experience – keeping Mignolet in the meantime.

What do you think? Let us know…

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