In a recent report, The Daily Mirror has claimed that Stoke City keeper Jack Butland could be in line to seal a move to Liverpool before the domestic transfer deadline later this month. It is believed that the Potters goalie has got less than 12 months remaining on his current contract at the bet365 Stadium which could open the door for the Reds to secure his services this month (via The Daily Mirror).
Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice goalkeeper, Allison Becker is out of action at the moment which has increased the Merseyside club’s need to recruit a new back-up keeper, following Adrian’s meltdown in the 7-2 loss away at Aston Villa before the international break.
Butland’s Solid Form At The Bet365 Stadium Last Season
Butland managed to earn a lot of game time for Stoke last season when he produced a run of eye-catching performances under Michael O’Neill’s tutelage. The Bristol-born shot-stopper participated in 36 matches for the Staffordshire outfit in the previous campaign, shipping in 58 goals while picking up nine shutouts across various competitions.
The 27-year-old established himself as a decent member of O’Neill’s squad as he averaged 0.6 clearances and 7.7 long balls per 90 minutes in the 2019-20 EFL Championship season. Still, his ball-distribution has a lot of room for improvement after he made only 55.5% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
What Does The Championship Keeper Offer On The Field?
Butland can pull off a few quick dives to halt the opposition from finding the back of the net. He is blessed with terrific reflexes which he can use to make some crucial stops inside his penalty area. However, the English custodian can be a bit soft in the air, especially when he is coming out to collect the ball during the opponent’s indirect set-pieces.
Furthermore, Butland is used to playing long balls but is not that comfortable when being told to play the ball out from the back. Therefore, he might struggle to adapt to Jurgen Klopp’s style of possession-based football if the Reds decide to snap him up this month.
Is Butland The Right Choice For Klopp?
Having Allison out of action after the international break could hamper Liverpool’s title hopes as Adrian is not good enough to pass the test at Anfield so far. The Spanish goalie has been a liability on the pitch whenever he has been called up to play in between the sticks in Klopp’s first XI.
Therefore, the Reds can benefit from signing a new keeper capable of serving as a decent back-up to Alisson at Merseyside. All in all, Butland won’t be a bad choice for Liverpool but whether he is the right man for them remains to be seen.
