Liverpool are back in the market for a goalkeeper and have initiated contact with AS Roma for Brazilian stopper Alisson.
There was big speculation throughout January that the Reds would be hoping to add a new face between the sticks, though a bid never materialised.
Instead, manager Jurgen Klopp made a change from within; Loris Karius was installed as the new No. 1, with the boss suggesting his compatriot would get the chance to cement his place with a regular run.
That has been the case, with Karius playing both Premier League and Champions League games and keeping three clean sheets in his last four games.
Now, though, Sky Sports have claimed the Reds are in touch with Roma over a summer move for Alisson, with talks “at a very early stage via an Italian intermediary.”
Roma are said to value the 26-year-old him at £62 million (€70 million) – which would be a world record fee for a goalkeeper.
The club have already shown they have no trouble with paying such huge sums if the player is exactly the right one for the team and for Klopp’s tactics, and many fans would be ecstatic to see Alisson join.
The timing of the report is not ideal for Liverpool, just as Karius is enjoying a run in the team and looking more confident.
Karius has been waiting for a chance to prove his worth and, given the confidence and backing of the boss, has certainly stepped up his game of late.
That increase in performance stems from having stability in the role and beginning to develop an understanding with those in front of him, particularly with Virgil van Dijk having settled in so quickly.
The Reds have a lot left to play for this season and they need focused minds and high confidence from every area of the pitch—particularly in goal, where they have had such issues over the past few seasons.
A summer approach for Alisson might well make sense, might well be the right course of action to take, but it must not come at the expense of the confidence, consistency and determination of the current incumbent Karius.
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