9 Mar 2016

Priority Transfer? Klopp wants 'magnificent' £20m international Liverpool almost signed under BR. Talks held already

In January, and ex-Red Stan Collymore urged Liverpool to make Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland the club's number-one transfer target, and new reports this week suggest that the 22-year old 'stopper remains on the Jurgen Klopp's wanted list.

In December, £20m-rated Butland admitted that it's 'wonderful' to be linked with Liverpool, and according to The Mirror today:

"Jurgen Klopp is lining up a summer move for...Jack Butland [who] has been in imperious form for Stoke".

During Brendan Rodgers' reign, Liverpool reportedly held transfer talks with Butland, and in a recent column for Boyle Sports, Collymore insisted:

"[Liverpool should] break the bank for Jack Butland. He could give the youth, quality and consistency for years to come in the manner Joe Hart did for Manchester City".

BBC Pundit Robbie Savage agreed with Collymore:

“If I was the manager of Liverpool, I'd be putting in a bid for Jack Butland...and keep Mignolet as back-up".

During Brendan Rodgers' reign, Liverpool reportedly held talks with Birmingham over a move for Butland, but according to Stoke boss Mark Hughes:

"He [Butland] is going nowhere. People are aware of him...but he needs a season-in-season-out of week-in-week-out in the Premier League".

Butland vs. Mignolet:

* JB: 52 goals conceded in 44 apps (1 every 76 mins)

* SM: 157 goals conceded in 135 apps (1 every 91 mins)

* JB: 15 clean sheets (29% of games/1 every 264 mins)

* SM: 44 clean sheets (32% of games/1 every 280 mins)

This Season

* JB: 36 goals conceded in 33 games (1 every 84 mins)

* SM: 42 goals conceded in 41 games (1 every 90 mins)

* JB: 12 clean sheets (39% of games/1 every 252 mins)

* SM: 16 clean sheets (39% of games/1 every 236 mins)

As the primary stats show, Mignolet - despite his mistakes - is outperforming Butland this season, and overall, he has superior overall club stats.

If Liverpool are to replace Mignolet, it should be with someone who is a significant upgrade on the Belgian, and although Butland - hailed by Jamie Redknapp as 'magnificent' - is clearly talented, he is (IMO) yet another talented British player who is in the midst of being grossly overhyped.

'Break the bank'? Why is that necessary when there are statistically superior goalkeepers in other leagues available at a fraction of Butland's fee? Timo Horn, for example, who consistently outperforms both Mignolet and Butland:

Horn also has a comparatively piffling £6.5m release clause in his contract, so there's absolutely no need for Liverpool to 'break the bank' for yet another overhyped English player.

Author: Jaimie K


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