28 Dec 2015

Transfer Update: Liverpool in pole-position to sign 'fantastic' €48k-a-week Milan outcast. Swap-deal for Balotelli?

Speculation over Liverpool's alleged search for a new goalkeeper continues to intensify, and with the transfer window opening in less than a week, the Reds are once again being linked with a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

In early December, Calciomercato claimed that FSG had sanctioned a swap-deal with Mario Balotelli, and according to Italian newspaper Gazetta Dello Sport today:

"A number of Premier League teams are interested in [Diego Lopez] and Liverpool are leading the pack".

Lopez hasn't played for Milan since being usurped in October by 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma, but when asked this week about his future, the Spaniard insisted that he wants to stay and fight for his place:

"I'll keep working with maximum effort. I’m very motivated to come back stronger than ever. I have belief in myself and I will do whatever I can to get back to defending the Milan goal.”

Some info about Lopez:

* Current contract expires: June 2018,,and Lopez is reportedly on €48k-a-week.

* A.C. Milan: 56 goals conceded in 37 games (1.5 per game)

* 6 clean sheets overall (16% of games/1 every 6 games)

* Villareal/Real Madrid: 371 goals conceded in 303 games (1.2 per game)

* 92 clean sheets (30% of games/1 every 3.2 games).

* Real Madrid goalkeeping coach Villiam Vecchi's assessment: "He [Lopez] is a fantastic guy [and] hates letting in goals. I've seen him get angry in training when someone scores. He's one of the best keepers I've ever worked with. He's good with his feet, and really good in the air. His best attribute is his reflexes".

Lopez appears to have regressed since his time in La Liga, and based on his current stats, he is not an upgrade on Simon Mignolet (who averages 1.2 goals conceded per game). As such, I personally don't see the point of bringing the Spaniard to Anfield (even if it does allow the Reds to get rid of Balotelli).

Author: Jaimie K


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