Linked with a number of German goalkeepers throughout 2016, Liverpool are now poised to move for Mainz No. 1 Loris Karius.
The Reds were believed to be preparing a bid for Cologne stopper Timo Horn, with the 23-year-old admitting earlier this month that he would consider a move to a “top club” this summer.
But despite Horn’s availability, and his bargain £7 million release clause, Jurgen Klopp‘s focus is believed to have switched.
According to German publication Express, the Liverpool manager is now interested in raiding his old club, Mainz, for 22-year-old goalkeeper Karius.
Karius is said to have a release clause of around £8 million in his current contract, and is exploring the possibility of a return to England, something that Goal.com’s Melissa Reddy corroborated on Saturday afternoon.
The one-cap Germany U21 international joined Man City from Stuttgart in 2009, spending three years in the Premier League side’s academy before making the switch to Mainz in 2011.
Now established as Mainz’s first-choice goalkeeper, Karius has made 95 appearances for the first team.
This season, Karius has kept eight clean sheets in 33 Bundesliga games, as Mainz look to secure a fifth-placed finish this season, ahead of Hertha Berlin and Schalke.
If Klopp is considering a move for Karius, this would come at the recommendation of departing Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel, who leaves for Schalke after 24 years with the club.
Karius is a physically dominant goalkeeper standing at 6’3″, but boasts the agility and reflexes to operate as a front-footed shot-stopper, quick off his line and excellent in the six-yard area.
Possessing everything required to develop into a top-level goalkeeper, Karius would be a great signing for the Reds this summer, as Klopp looks to add competition for current first choice Simon Mignolet.
Danny Ward is also poised to feature more regularly in the future, but is likely to join Huddersfield on a season-long loan for 2016/17, leaving a space in Klopp’s squad for a new goalkeeper.
For £8 million, Karius would be an ideal signing, particularly if Klopp has chosen to overlook Horn.
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