Liverpool are set to drop out of the race for AS Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker who is also wanted by European giants Real Madrid
Liverpool have decided to end their interest in signing AS Roma shot-stopper Alisson Becker in the summer, after manager Jurgen Klopp has been left impressed by current first-choice Loris Karius’ recent form, a report from the Liverpool Echo claims.
The goalkeeping department has been somewhat of a perennial problem for Liverpool in the Klopp era, with Belgian custodian Simon Mignolet failing to convince and Karius too struggling in the early parts of his spell at Anfield.
As a result, the Reds had been monitoring the progress of Alisson very closely, with an intent of making a move to sign him in the next summer. Roma are believed to have slapped a whopping £70 million price tag on the Brazilian international, after reportedly being upset over having lost Mohamed Salah to the Reds at a very low price in the current state of the transfer market.
This factor, coupled with the resurgence in the form of Karius’ in recent weeks has encouraged Klopp to drop his plans of recruiting Alisson in the summer and instead continue to back his compatriot as the club’s No.1 between the sticks.
Karius joined Liverpool from Mainz in the summer of 2016 and has endured a difficult time in England since his move. Having been in and out of the team, the German was made the Liverpool No.1 by Klopp last month and he has repaid the manager’s faith with some strong displays.
And if the 24-year old manages to sustain this form till the end of the season, Liverpool will not sign a new No.1 in the form of Alisson, but instead look for someone to compete with Karius, which would mean Mignolet is very much likely to leave in the summer.
Liverpool unlikely to break the bank to sign Alisson as resurgent Karius strengthens grip on No 1 spot #LFC https://t.co/rKU7JQO8ZQ
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) February 16, 2018
This development also leaves the field open for reigning European champions Real Madrid to swoop in and sign Alisson at the end of the season.
The defending European champions continue to be linked with a goalkeeper every transfer window, with David De Gea of Manchester United and Kepa Arrizabalaga of Athletic Bilbao being the club’s top targets. However, with both those players unlikely to leave their clubs in the summer, Alisson has emerged as a viable option for Zinedine Zidane’s side.
The 25-year old, who has 22 caps for the Brazil national team, has prospered in Rome since the departure of Wojciech Szczesny. In the ongoing campaign, he has featured 30 times in all competitions, keeping 13 shut-outs, impressing everyone with his sharp reflexes and ability to stop close-range shots.
Alisson has a contract until the summer of 2021 with the Giallorossi, but with every passing day, it looks more and more likely that he will be on his way out of the Stadio Olimpico come the end of the season.
