According to a recent report by Voetbal24, Liverpool could net a cool €5m for Loris Karius whose loan spell at Besiktas comes to an end this summer. It is understood that the Turkish club are interested in securing the services of the German keeper but will face competition from Anderlecht, West Ham United and Sporting CP in pursuit of the player (via Voetbal24).
Karius’ Lacklustre Loan Spell In Turkey
Karius has endured a difficult loan spell in the Turkish Super Lig after failing to prove his worth for his parent club. His two costly mistakes in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid will live long in the memories of the Liverpool supporters but for all the wrong reasons. Hence, there is no way back for him at Anfield, so the sensible option would be for him to move on permanently at the end of the current season.
The German goalie has featured in 32 matches for the Istanbul outfit this term, conceding 46 goals while securing eight clean sheets across all competitions. Even though Karius has been leaky at the back, he has managed to salvage some pride by earning some important shutouts for his side. However, he has lacked consistency with his performances in between the sticks, which makes him a concern for any of his potential suitors.
Does Klopp Have Any Room For The German Custodian At Merseyside?
Jurgen Klopp currently has Alisson Becker, Adrian and Caoimhín Kelleher as his goal-keeping options at Anfield. However, the Reds head coach might look to bring in a new keeper who can be a suitable deputy to Alisson in the coming years. The form of Adrian came under scrutiny after he committed a catastrophic error versus Atletico Madrid which saw Liverpool get knocked out of the UEFA Champions League. Unfortunately, the football world came to a standstill soon after due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is still unclear whether Klopp is willing to retain Adrian’s services beyond this summer.
If not, then Karius could be a potential option. Still, it is difficult to see how the Liverpool manager will be able to put his trust back on his countryman after his recent struggles in European football. Thus, the Merseyside club will be better off cashing in on Karius in the summer before his contract at Anfield runs out at the end of next season.
Why The Reds Need To Permanently Part Ways With Karius This Summer
The 26-year-old has been on the decline over the past few years, so maybe a change of scenery in the off-season could help him make a fresh start away from Merseyside. A permanent switch to Besiktas will also be a sensible move for Karius as he will be able to ensure regular playing time in Turkey. It feels like the right time for the Reds to cut him loose as Klopp does not have any room for him in his squad.
At 26, Karius can still pull off some decent stops at the back, but at the same time, he is also susceptible to making mistakes. The German shot-stopper can also be a bit tidier with his ball-distribution after making only 66.1% of his attempted passes in the Super Lig and the UEFA Europa League this season (stats via whoscored). It’s high time that both the player and his parent club moved in different directions in search of more joy in the future.
