Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has publicly kept up his support for beleaguered goalkeeper Loris Karius following the player’s nightmare performance in the Champions League final.
The shot-stopper’s two howlers in European club football’s biggest game, however, no doubt have the Reds looking for alternatives elsewhere.
Here are five potential replacements Liverpool could pursue.
Alisson (Roma)
A move for the Roma keeper has long been mooted, although speculation died down when Karius started to find some form.
With the German’s poor performance in last week’s final, however, there’s no doubt that the keeper Liverpool vanquished in the semi-final is now firmly back on their radar.
Alisson has been linked with a move to Liverpool all season.
Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid)
The Slovenian had another stunning season for the Europa League champions, but has been linked with a move away from Atlético Madrid, and to the Premier League, for quite a while now.
Oblak’s physical strength and his command in the box seemingly mark him out ready for England. Plus, there is previous with goalkeepers coming from Atlético to the Premier League and excelling. Just ask David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois.
A move to the Premier League has long been mooted for Oblak.
Jack Butland (Stoke City)
With Stoke having been relegated, some of their players are certain to be picked off by the Premier League’s biggest clubs. Their goalkeeper is their prize asset, but they’ll be hard-pressed to keep him as a Championship team.
Potters manager Paul Lambert had suggested the club could hold out for a £70million fee for their star player, but in all likelihood Butland, who is in England’s World Cup squad, will be available for much less.
Liverpool could rescue Butland from the Championship.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan)
The young Italian has had a turbulent time at Milan, and with the Rossoneri having failed to qualify for the Champions League it’s likely that his future lies elsewhere.
Donnarumma has been linked with a move to several of Europe’s top clubs, and Liverpool were reported to be in the running according to speculation that emerged last week. The 19-year-old is the top goalkeeping prospect in Europe, and although he’ll no doubt require a bedding in period for English football, signing him would be a coup for Liverpool.
Signing Donnarumma would be a coup for the Reds.
Gianluigi Buffon
If Donnarumma would be a coup, then what about the man he’s expected to replace as Italy’s No1 soon? Buffon called time on his long and decorated spell at Juventus this month, but what had initially been expected to be a retirement announcement surprisingly turned out to be just a farewell to his beloved club.
Buffon has been heavily linked with a move to PSG and that’s likely where he’ll end up. However, for any Liverpool fans wanting to indulge their fantasies, the Italian did say in an interview in 2014 that as a child, he had dreamt of playing for Europe’s biggest clubs, naming the Anfield side in that list. And he’s available on a free.
Buffon to the Premier League? It’s a (distant) possibility.
