Napoli’s recent interests in Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno are discouraging signs for Liverpool who are in the market for a goalkeeper. The Reds are set to miss out on AS Roma’s Alisson Becker as well with Real Madrid prepared to make a beefed up bid in the summer.
A cause for concern among the Liverpool faithful especially after witnessing a season of defensive incompetence. The goalkeeper position has been especially problematic Simone Mignolet and Loris Karius unable to match the elite standards of a title-contending side.
Mignolet has been with the Reds for over 7 years now and has yet to deliver consistent bouts of shot stopping abilities. The bosses of Anfield caved and decided to bring in another keeper to replace him in the first team. They chose Karius from Mainz, who has turned out to be a less than ideal investment.
Jurgen Klopp has rotated the duo for the past 2 seasons and has suffered quite a few blowbacks. He has bolstered the defence through the addition of £75m man, Virgil van Dijk in January and now needs to address the next problem.
Here are a few candidates the German should consider ahead of the summer window.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
The AC Milan shot-stopper was forced to concede 2 goals in the First Leg of the UEFA Europa League Round Of 16 match at San Siro, against Arsenal.
The 19-year-old’s relationship with the Serie A outfit is strained after refusing to sign a contract extension earlier in the season. He has even reduced to tears after an array of boos and whistles were thrown his way in a game earlier in the season.
Chelsea are heading the race for the highly rated Italian international but Liverpool could be in the driving seat by preparing an improved bid.
Kevin Trapp
The Paris Saint-Germain number 2 shot-stopper is reportedly frustrated with the Ligue 1 giants having been demoted to a less dignified rotational role. Trapp’s talents are deserved of a first-team spot and a transfer is looking more than likely as the season winds down to a close.
Jack Butland
Butland has been a refreshing presence in the Potters lineup for the better part of the season. If Stoke City fail to escape relegation by the end of the season, it would be difficult to hold onto such a high pedigree player.
The Reds are also prepared the break the bank by shelling out £40m for the Stoke City shot-stopper, which would make him the world’s most expensive player in the position, ahead of Manchester City’s Ederson.
