Bournemouth are ready to provide an escape route for Simon Mignolet from his Liverpool nightmare, as the Cherries eye a keeper in the summer.
Bournemouth are ready to accelerate their summer plans by making some early signings in the transfer market. One player on their list, according to The Sun is Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The Cherries are ready to take advantage of the Belgian’s situation at Liverpool by making an offer to the Merseyside club and effectively end his Anfield nightmare.
Mignolet had been Liverpool’s first choice keeper for a number of seasons after arriving from Sunderland back in 2013. After Jurgen Klopp’s arrival as manager at the club, he has found his place under threat; first to German stopper Loris Karius and then to last season’s big money arrival Alisson Becker. The German has since been shipped out on loan to Besiktas, while the Brazilian has cemented his place.
While Klopp has made Alisson his undisputed No.1, ensuring the Brazilian is the first choice in the Premier League and Champions League, Mignolet only managed two games this season. Those two games were against Chelsea in the League Cup and Wolves in the FA Cup, both ending in defeats.
Mignolet was widely expected to leave Anfield last summer, but after Karius’ exit Klopp did not allow the Belgian to leave. The exit rumours failed to go away during January as many clubs showed interest in him, including Barcelona who were keeping an eye on him. The Belgian might get his wish to leave the club and end a tough period on the bench with a transfer elsewhere, possibly Bournemouth.
The Cherries are in the market for a good goalkeeper. Eddie Howe lost his patience with initial first choice stopper Asmir Begovic and reinstated 39-year-old Artur Boruc as his No.1. The veteran Polish keeper went on to make 12 appearances till the end of the season, but Howe now wants someone for the long term.
Mignolet, at 31, still has a relatively good time at the top of his game and could fit the bill for Howe for an experienced keeper. Liverpool are reportedly demanding £15 million from suitors for the Belgian, and Bournemouth could be a in a good position to pay that kind of money for the player.
The Cherries could also pose a decent option for Mignolet, who, with such a move could find himself playing again regularly. In fact, at Bournemouth, Mignolet could find himself immediately slotting in as first choice keeper for his competition are Boruc and 20-year-old Mark Travers. The Irish keeper is still considered a raw product and might find himself as either second or third choice next season.
Mignolet’s inactivity in the Premier League has not proved to be a concern for Belgium manager Roberto Martinez who has continued to include the keeper in his national side. Additionally, his nine years in the Premier League will come in handy at Bournemouth, for whom he could prove to be a good signing.
