Recently, most of the talk about potential new Anfield arrivals has revolved around a replacement for Coutinho, or another attacker to bolster the frontline which lacks strength in depth.
But long-term, we’d suggest a goalkeeper is the most important requirement, with neither Simon Mignolet or Loris Karius so far showing they’re up to scratch.
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Jan Oblak was invited to Liverpool & shown Melwood… But injury scuppered deal
The German will now get a run of matches where he’ll be given the opportunity to prove himself, but if he doesn’t Echo correspondent James Pearce is convinced Jurgen Klopp will go for a new no.1 in the summer.
Jan Oblak is a fantasy option, but the journalist has suggested the fact Klopp spent £75m on Virgil van Dijk is proof he’ll be ready to splash enormous cash on the right player once again.
“I expect Liverpool to sign a keeper this summer. Who that is and how much they spend will hinge on how Loris Karius performs over the coming months,” Pearce said, when asked about Oblak in a Q&A.
“Can he prove he’s a long-term option for Liverpool between the posts? If he does then I’d expect Simon Mignolet to leave at the end of the season. He wouldn’t hang around as a No 2.
“If Karius doesn’t silence the doubts about him then Klopp will have no option but to buy a top-class new No 1.
“You only have to look at the Van Dijk deal to see that if Klopp thinks someone is worth £80m and believes he would provide a major boost to the side then the price tag wouldn’t put him off.”
Roma’s Alisson would be a cheaper alternative, but arguably no less exciting. The Brazilian has been phenomenal for the Italian side this term and has a €50m release-clause which we could trigger.
We’d love to be proved wrong on Karius, and if the 24-year-old shows us he’s capable – great.
But Liverpool still need to be lining up an elite alternative.