Liverpool are reportedly lining up a bid for Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas. With Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet failing to convince they are reliable shot-stoppers on a long-term basis, Jurgen Klopp is planning to bring in a new goalkeeper in the summer.
The Reds are interested in acquiring the services of AS Roma goalkeeper Alisson, although it is understood that the Brazilian will command around £70million. The sky-high price-tag for Alisson has certainly put Klopp on the back-foot and the Liverpool gaffer has started planning for the alternatives.
As per Spanish news outlet Diario Gol, Klopp has identified Real’s Keylor Navas as the man to solve his goalkeeping woes and the Reds are planning to make a bid of €20m for the 31-year-old. Navas has been a mainstay at Santiago Bernabeu since joining them from Levante in 2014 and continues to be a solid customer between the sticks for Zinedine Zidane.
The Costa Rican has enjoyed his time with the Spanish giants and has already won two Champions League trophies and remains hungry for more success. But the report suggests that Real president Florentino Perez is a huge fan of Navas and remains keen to sell him after the end of this campaign.
Perez is believed to be interested in a move for Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois or Manchester United’s David De Gea. However, Zidane praised Navas earlier in the season when asked about Athletic Bilbao’s talented goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
“I’m always going to be with Keylor and Kiko [Casilla],” Zidane was quoted by the Express.
“Kepa’s a good goalkeeper, sure. There’s no doubt about that. But he’s not my goalkeeper. I’m sticking with Keylor and Kiko. We’ll see what happens when they open the market. We’ll see if any one comes and if they can, they can. But I’ve got Keylor and I’m happy with that.”
With Navas having got the full backing of his manager, it would be tough for Liverpool to get a deal done for the goalkeeper in the summer.
It is very clear that Klopp wants to give Karius a host of chances until the end of the season to establish himself as the club’s first choice. If Karius fails to grab those opportunities, then our gaffer would look for a new shot-stopper, with Simon Mignolet already planning to move away from Anfield.
