Liverpool have slapped a £15 million asking price on Simon Mignolet, who has been excluded from Jurgen Klopp’s plans for next season.
According to The Sun, Liverpool are looking to ship second choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet away from Anfield this summer. The Belgian international has struggled to make an impression in the first-team following the arrival of Alisson last summer. As a result, he has been listed as one of the players likely to leave the club in the ongoing transfer window.
However, the Reds aren’t willing to let go of their goalkeeper for a cut-price fee this summer, despite his fair share of struggles in the past couple of seasons. It is believed that Liverpool apparently want £15 million for the services of Mignolet, with Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich being among the clubs that are listed as potential suitors.
Bournemouth, in particular, will be devoid of goalkeeping options next season, with Asmir Begovic likely to leave the club this summer while Boruc, 39, will be out of contract at the end of the season. Hence, a move for Mignolet could make a world of sense for the Cherries as they aim to survive yet another season in the English top flight.
As for Watford, they will have to deal with the retirement of second choice keeper Heurelho Gomes. The addition of Mignolet, therefore, will add more competition for Ben Foster, who, at the age of 36, is already on the final phase of his career.
Norwich City, on the other hand, already have a genuine number one goalkeeper in Tim Krul. But, they lack the services of a proper alternative for the Dutchman, thus making Mignolet a viable target for the Canaries.
The biggest problems for these clubs, in the pursuit of the Belgian keeper, however, will be Liverpool’s hefty price-tag. All of these three clubs operate with a relatively smaller budget. Hence, coughing up £15 million for a keeper who has been on a steady decline since 2015 will too big of a gamble, despite the massive inflation in the market nowadays.
Therefore, Liverpool will need to lower their asking price for Mignolet if they are to have any hopes of selling the much-maligned Belgian keeper this summer. His departure, however cheap, will allow the Reds to make room for a new and preferably younger keeper, who can provide solid cover for Alisson next season.