Liverpool looking to bid big for England’s future number one
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The goalkeeping position was a real bode of contention at Liverpool during Brendan Rodgers’ reign at Anfield and with Jurgen Klopp in charge nothing seems to have changed.
Simon Mignolet has long been under pressure as the first choice stopper in the red half of Merseyside, but without a real high-class deputy pressurising his place has largely been untouched in the Liverpool net for the past few seasons.
Rodgers did drop the Belgian glove wearer at one point last season, but with Brad Jones quickly showing why he’s rarely seen on a Premier League pitch, the Northern Irishman was forced to restore Mignolet sooner rather than later.
Since Klopp’s arrival, there has been no suggestion that the German wants to make a change between the sticks, despite regular rumours pointing to the contrary and with the January transfer window approaching such chatter isn’t going away.
Reports in the Sun on Sunday indicate that Liverpool will look to make a large bid for Stoke’s impressive young stopper Jack Butland, although the paper believes that won’t come until the summer.
Butland has been in fine form for Mark Hughes’ side this term and has made two starts for Roy Hodgson’s England off the back of those performances.
There is little doubt that the 22-year-old will be the long-term successor to Joe Hart as the nation’s number one, but at such a young age, still has a lot of developing to do.
The Sun report that Liverpool will bid £20m for goalkeeper at the end of the current campaign and should he make the switch, both that transfer fee and the Reds’ lofty ambitions will be a test of Butland’s character.
Liverpool have lost just once in their last five Premier League games under the German and are 1/2 favourites to beat Swansea in their next outing.
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