Latest reports have confirmed that Atletico Madrid’s goalkeeper has signed an extension on his contract with the club. Diego Simeone’s team has been bleeding players this month after losing three players including stars like Yannick Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan to Chinese Super League.
There has also been a lot of chatter going on regarding the future of their Slovakian goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
However, the club president Enrique Cerezo has pacified the supporters by confirming that Oblak has signed a new contract with the club. When asked about the future of 25-year-old Oblak, the president told Radio Marca: “My understanding is Oblak has renewed with us, if you did not know already.”
Atletico had Belgian stopper Thibaut Courtois in goal before 2014. However, the Blues came to collect their man in 2014 and the story continues to get interesting as, after Courtois departure from Atletico, the man to replace him was Slovenian keeper Jan Oblak. Rumours had then surfaced with Oblak linked with a move to England by following in Courtois’ footsteps and join Liverpool or Arsenal.
He, like Courtois, developed under Simeone and is considered one of the finer keepers in the game as was demonstrated when Chelsea faced Atletico Madrid in the group stages of the Champions League at Stamford Bridge. The Slovenian drew out some top-drawer saves that allowed his side to win a point.
Liverpool have had their own goalkeeping problems to deal with. While Klopp’s men are a treat to watch when attacking, their defence has committed several howlers leading everyone to question Liverpool’s defensive frailties. As is the process with today’s media hype, solutions have poured in on how to secure the backline and the most popular panacea it would seem was to get an established centre-back and a strong goalkeeper. Having already signed Virgil Van Dijk their attention has fallen on a new goalkeeper.
Liverpool have had Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius in goal under Klopp’s tenure and neither of the two keepers have been in good form. They have conceded average goals, made costly errors at the back and been shaky when it has come to dealing with high-pressing opponents. It was in this light, that the Reds were tipped to jump in for Oblak and fix the problem at the back.
However, now things look bleak in terms of signing Oblak but Klopp cannot rest for he must find himself an alternative if his team are to challenge for multiple trophies next season.
