23 May 2016

Transfer Agreed: 'Excellent' €10m star flies in to sign for Liverpool. Medical today. Announcement tomorrow

After months of speculation, the search for Liverpool's new goalkeeper appears to be over, with the Reds reportedly on the verge of sealing a deal for Mainz 'stopper Loris Karius.

Last week, The Guardian claimed:

"Loris Karius is on Merseyside to finalise his transfer from Mainz. He will undergo a medical after the Reds agreed a deal with Mainz. His signing is unlikely to be confirmed until Tuesday evening".

According to Liverpool Echo today:

"Loris Karius is in Liverpool for a medical ahead of completing a move to the club. Personal terms have been agreed, and Liverpool met the terms of the 22-year old's release clause [€10m]".

In my view, Karius is making a huge mistake. Right now, he is Mainz's undisputed number-one goalkeeper, and plays every game, so why swap that to rot away on the Liverpool's bench?

Some fans will delude themselves into thinking that Karius is being brought in to replace Mignolet, but the available evidence suggests he will end up being back-up:

* Adam Bogdan has no future at Anfield, so there's obviously a back-up 'keeper space to fill.

* Mignolet is an established Belgian international moving into the prime of his career, and just signed a new 5-year contract. Karius is 22-year old with no international experience. With this in mind, are we to believe that Karius will just walk into the team and instantly becoming the club's number-one? Give me a break.

* Additionally, according to Sky Sports: "Karius could miss the opening 3 weeks of the Premier League season as he is expected to be in Germany's squad for the Olympics".. What club signs a new number-one goalkeeper who's not available for the crucial first part of the season?

In that three week period, Mignolet will be first choice, and if he plays well, he will keep his place, and with no European football, fewer chances exist for rotation, especially in the first half of the season.

Mark my words: Karius will be 'competition' for Mignolet, so he better get used to warming the bench, whilst watching from afar as his Mainz team-mates compete in the Europa League.


^ Described as 'excellent' by Mainz captain Julian Baumgartlinger


0 Comments:

Post a Comment