Liverpool keeper Loris Karius has sealed a loan move to Germany after agreeing to join Union Berlin this summer. The German keeper has completed a one-year loan transfer to the Bundesliga club (via Kicker).
Karius’ Unimpressive Loan Spell With Besiktas
The 27-year-old spent two years on loan with Besiktas recently but struggled to give a good account of himself in Turkish football. Karius played in 67 matches for the Istanbul-based club, shipping in 95 goals while earning 14 clean sheets across various competitions.
The German custodian managed to average 0.8 clearances and 6.6 long balls per game in the last edition of the UEFA Europa League. However, he was sloppy with his ball-distribution as he completed only 65.1% of his attempted passes in European football last season (stats via whoscored).
Karius has failed to regain his confidence since his UEFA Champions League final meltdown versus Real Madrid back in 2018. He has tried to get back to his best but has been quite disappointing with his performances in Turkey over the past couple of years.
What Does The German Goalie Offer On The Pitch?
Karius boasts quick reflexes which help him to pull off some crucial stops at the back. He can also make some strong dives to come to his side’s rescue occasionally when playing with confidence on the field. However, the German shot-stopper has struggled to find consistency with his performances since joining the Reds back in 2016.
The ex-Mainz keeper is prone to making mistakes inside his penalty area and was mainly responsible for costing his Liverpool teammates a Champions League winner’s medal. He is not the best handler of the ball and can sometimes get his positioning all wrong in front of the goal.
Karius could benefit from making a switch back to his homeland where he will be able to kickstart his career in familiar surroundings which might help him regain some form and find some consistency at the top level.
Letting Karius Go Out On Loan: A No-Brainer For The Reds?
The reigning champions of England have no need to retain Karius’s services this season because they have already got Adrian playing as the back-up to Allison Becker at Anfield. Hence, it is a no-brainer for the Merseyside giants to ship the German keeper out on loan this summer. At the end of his loan period at Berlin, Karius will have a year left in his Liverpool contract. Hence, Klopp can buy some time by sanctioning his temporary departure this summer before trying to offload him permanently for a cut-price fee at the end of this campaign.
