3 goalkeepers Liverpool could sign in January
Published:
Reds still look shaky at the back
Simon Mignolet may have been handed the captaincy for Liverpool last night, but that didn’t stop him putting in another poor performance.
The Belgian goalkeeper was lucky not to be sent off after hacking down Mame Biram Diouf in the first-half against Stoke City.
With questions hanging over the ex-Sunderland man, the Coral News Team look at three possible replacements for the 29-year-old in the January window.
Jack Butland
Butland is the obvious option for Liverpool. He’s young, he’s talented and he’s proven at the top level. The 24-year-old is a top class shot stopper and also manages to retain an impressive control over his area – unlike Mignolet.
However, injury problems have curtailed his progress with Stoke. In the last two seasons, Butland has only played 17 games for the Potters. Yet even with that record, he has been on the fringes of the England squad and played against France in a friendly last June.
His quality is undoubted. But whether Jurgen Klopp is willing to take a chance on his injury record and hefty transfer fee remains to be seen. Regardless, the Coral News Team thinks he remains the best option for Liverpool at the current time.
Neto
Valencia’s early season success has been largely down to the form of Neto. Los Che boast La Liga’s fourth-best defensive record so far this season. Meanwhile, Neto himself has six clean sheets from his opening 12 games.
Liverpool were reportedly interested in the 28-year-old back in 2014 when he was at Fiorentina. The Brazilian opted to join Juventus instead. After 11 appearances in two years for Juve, the 6ft 3in ace appears to have resurrected his career at the Mestalla Stadium.
A move to Anfield would represent another step up for the ex-youth international who still harbours ambitions of playing for the national team. With Liverpool something of a home for Brazilian talent at the moment, a move to Merseyside could well appeal for both parties.
Jasper Cillessen
Cillessen is reportedly on his way out of Barcelona. The Dutchman is out of favour at Nou Camp and has played just twice this season, both times in the Copa del Rey.
The 28-year-old is a top-class performer. He is the number one for the Netherlands and won three league titles with Ajax prior to his move to Spain.
For Klopp, he also represents excellent value. Cillessen only cost Barca £11.4m back in 2016. His price is not expected to have gone up significantly in that time.
And crucially for the Reds, he’s readily available. Newcastle United have been linked with the Dutch international in recent weeks, but a move to Anfield would appeal a great deal more than a switch to the North-East.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
