It looks for all the world like Loris Karius will be arriving from Mainz this summer to compete with Simon Mignolet for the no.1 jersey.
James Pearce confirmed talks are ongoing in the Echo, and we can see the deal for the 22-year-old being tied up shortly.
Here’s the lowdown on the imminent arrival:
1) Karius played for five different sides at youth level. He went between FV Biberach, SG Metternberg, SSV Ulm 1846, Stuttgart and Manchester City, before eventually settling at Mainz at 2011 – where he made his debut for Mainz II aged just 17. He spent two years in England so can speak the language (as most Germans can) but didn’t make the Etihad grade.
2) By 2012, he was starting for the first-team as a teenager, usurping Christian Wetklo as Mainz’s no.1.
3) In total, Karius has played 91 Bundesliga matches, all before his 23rd birthday, so while he’s young, he’s hardly inexperienced.
4) Last term, Karius truly came of age, keeping nine clean-sheets during the 2015/16 campaign, voted the third best goalkeeper in the country in an end of season poll behind Manuel Neuer and Bernd Leno.
5) Karius has received international recognition at six age groups, but is yet to win a cap for Joachim Lowe’s World Cup winners – largely because Neuer’s probably the best stopper on the planet. Interestingly, he currently battles Timo Horn, another keeper linked to Liverpool, for the starting spot with the Under-21s.
6) Karius is not huge for a keeper, standing at 6 ft. 2″. Simon Mignolet, his soon-to-be competition, is 6 ft. 5″.
7) He’s a bit of a looker! Alongside his sporting duties, the inked-up stopper models for a range of companies, and will now challenge for Emre Can for the title of ‘Liverpool’s prettiest’!
8) Stylistically, Karius likes to punch rather than catch crosses, and prides himself on his superb reflex saves. Time and time again he can block shots from closer than the penalty spot.
9) During this season, Karius didn’t make a single error which led directly to a goal. Mignolet made four…
10) Our chances of acquiring Karius might well have been boosted by the fact he plays for Mainz, Jurgen Klopp’s former club. Klopp played for them for 11 years and managed them for seven more! The owners and fans absolutely love him and worship our boss as a legend, so we’re sure there’d rather sell to Klopp than another.