Barcelona development may accelerate Liverpool transfer plan already in place
Arne Slot may have to reconsider Liverpool’s transfer business already in place after Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been ruled out injured.
The Barcelona No. 1 sustained a serious knee injury in the Catalan’s 5-1 demolition win away against Villarreal on Sunday. The Germany international was stretchered off and underwent successful surgery after rupturing the patella tendon.
While no timescale has been put on the 32-year-old’s recovery, Ter Stegen is expected to miss at least several months and may not return until next season, leaving Barcelona with a goalkeeper crisis. Inaki Pena, 25, is the club’s second-choice keeper and will likely deputise in Ter Stegen’s absence but he’s played just 23 times for the first-team.
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Therefore, Barcelona may look to enter the transfer market in January to sign a new shot-stopper. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, sources close to the club have told them that Hansi Flick has requested that the board sign a goalkeeper for next season, with three prominent names mentioned.
Alongside AC Milan and France’s Mike Maignan and Manchester City’s backup Stefan Ortega, Liverpool’s Alisson has almost been touted. The outlet reports that the door could be open for Alisson to leave Anfield given the future arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia. It’s added that the deal would be difficult given the Reds’ valuation of the Brazilian and his wages.
Alisson’s long-term future at Liverpool is uncertain given Georgian stopper Mamardashvili is set to join the club next summer after a deal was agreed to the standout Euro 2024 goalkeeper. The 23-year-old is seen as the Reds' next first-choice between the sticks after Alisson departs the club, but the 31-year-old still has over one year remaining and the option of a further 12 months on the five-year terms he signed in 2021.
Mamardashvili sealed a move to Liverpool in August but won’t join the club until 2025 as he spends the current season with Valencia. The delay in the deal means that Slot doesn’t have an abundance of goalkeepers with Caoimhin Kelleher also at the club.
Alisson joined Liverpool from Roma in 2018 for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper, but he has certainly paid back his price tag with the Brazilian swiftly becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the world. After winning every trophy on offer with the Reds, Alisson became a target for the riches of the Saudi Pro League.
The Selecao star shut down a move to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in the summer. Saudi clubs have attempted to lure Alisson to the Middle East with lucrative contracts and the appeal of a tax-free environment, but Alisson still remains committed to the Reds.