Liverpool shot-stopper Simon Mignolet is reportedly looking to bring his five-year association with the Merseyside giants to an end in the summer.
As per a report in DH.be, the Belgian international is preparing to leave Anfield in the summer. He has also changed his agent recently, cutting ties with Guy Vandersmissen and joining Didier Frenay at Star Factory, becoming their most high profile player in the process.
After starting the season as Klopp’s first choice keeper in the Premier League, Mignolet has since lost his place to Lloris Karius. The German initially started the season as their first-choice keeper for Champions League games, but after the 14th of January, he’s taken over League duties as well.
So it comes as no surprise that the Belgian international would want to move away from Anfield. There aren’t too many potential destinations that can offer him a starting berth, some kind of European football and an upgrade of his current wages, but DH have stated two main options.
Napoli were linked with a move for the former Sint-Truiden keeper in the summer and had reportedly made contact with Liverpool to inquire about his availability. DH state that a move to Naples is an option as they will be looking to replace Pepe Reina in the summer.
They also insist that a move to the German top flight, the Bundesliga is an option. More specifically, Borussia Dortmund. It is claimed that they will look for a new number 1 in the summer and so, a move to Dortmund could materialise, should the German giants make an offer.
In the 202 games that he has played for Liverpool since joining them in the summer of 2013, he has kept a mere 66 clean sheets. He has also been heavily criticized in recent seasons for his errors, lack of focus and decision making.
At only 30 years of age, he is in the best years of his career and, Mignolet cannot afford to spend so much time on the bench. This lack of game time may also have an impact on his chances of making it into Belgium’s World Cup squad. However, on his day, he is a top class shot-stopper and perhaps a move away from Anfield is just the shot in the arm needed to revive his career.
