It was only a matter of time.
Liverpool may have splashed £167m on their summer transfers but the powers-that-be are keen to make some money back. Danny Ings and Lazar Markovic have been told they can look for new clubs, as has Divock Origi.
The Reds may also look to move one of their three frontline goalkeepers on. Alisson Becker has arrived for £62.5m and although Danny Ward (£10m) has joined Leicester City, three well-paid goalies into two is not likely to go.
Loris Karius is the senior goalkeeper on-deck for Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States. Both Alisson and Simon Mignolet have deferred returns after respective duty for Brazil and Belgium at the World Cup.
Jurgen Klopp has expressed his confidence in both Mignolet – “a proven Premier League goalkeeper” – and Karius, who was concussed in a Champions League final to forget. Behind the scenes, however, talks are ongoing between the players, their representatives and interested clubs.
For Mignolet, those clubs include Besiktas and Barcelona. The Turkish outfit are seeking a new No.1 after selling Spanish goalkeeper Fabri to Fulham for £5m. Barca need a back-up to Marc-Andre ter Stegen as Jasper Cillessen is keen for a starting role elsewhere.
Mignolet lost out in his duel with Karius for the starting role at Liverpool, last season. Interestingly, the Belgian was relegated for a long stint on the bench after being vocal about his displeasure with the rotation system at Anfield.
As for Karius, with snazzy Instagram videos and representatives making leaks to the press, he has hardly kept a low-profile. A report in The Telegraph claims the Alisson swoop has the German questioning his place at the club and has caused an issue with Klopp.
The 25-year-old is said to be “bitterly disappointed” by the move and “let down” by Klopp. He has reportedly sought talks with his manager over his future role at the club.
There are two reasons why Karius is likely to be Alisson’s deputy for the upcoming season. Firstly, Mignolet has been up front about his desire to be the main goalkeeper at whatever club he pitches up at. At 30, he is young enough to bed in at a new club and start afresh. He is on £60,000 per week too, so Liverpool could do with getting that expense off their ledger.
Secondly, and more strikingly, Karius is a tough, tough sell this summer.
The German’s every move, in matches or on social media, is being met by derision and his has carried his poor form into the pre-season. What club in their right mind would step forward and take Karius off Liverpool’s hands. Any move for the goalkeeper would be met with a strong reaction from fans at prospective clubs.
Karius is on £25,000 per week so is the more financially manageable option for a player being asked to ride the pine for the next 10 months.
Between Alisson, Mignolet and Karius, Liverpool are paying their top three goalies £8.4m per season. Something has to break.
