3 months ago
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Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
The swirling smoke and rumours around Georgia and Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili are solidifying quickly.
Liverpool’s failed pursuit of Martin Zubimendi speaks to the fact the club could probably use a six or defensive midfielder. And they could certainly use an alternative on the right wing to spell Mohamed Salah and perhaps to act as a succession plan for the 32-year-old Egyptian superstar.
There are questions, too, about the future at centre half with 33-year-old captain Virgil van Dijk heading into the final year of his contract, while homegrown Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is also in doubt. One position that doesn’t appear a glaring need is goalkeeper, where Alisson Becker is 31 years of age—still very much prime age for the position—and has a contract that runs through 2027.
It appears, though, that the club’s first—and, potentially at least, only—senior signing of the summer is going to be a high-talent shot stopper, as the smoke and rumours surrounding 23-year-old Valencia and Georgia rising star Giorgi Mamardashvili are today solidifying rapidly.
Transfer hype-man Fabrizio Romano has pushed the story along by claiming personal terms have been agreed between Mamardashvili and Liverpool, while club-connected journalist Paul Joyce of The Times has added legitimacy by reporting that the club are stepping up the chase to sign the best goalkeeper of Euro 2024.
Mamardashvili has been linked regularly over the past few weeks, raising eyebrows given what seems a lack of immediate need at the position. It’s also raised eyebrows given that while he appears on the verge of developing into a dominant shot stopper comparable to Alisson, he’s less than stellar with the ball at his feet.
Under former manager Jürgen Klopp, having a goalkeeper capable of elite distribution was seen as a priority. Under new head coach Arne Slot, early signs are that it will be even more important to have a goalkeeper with strong distribution skills in order to make his system work.
The current reporting has Mamardashvili likely to be shipped off Bournemouth, sporting director Richard Hughes’ former club, on loan for a season or two to marinate and perhaps develop his ability on the ball and due to the fact the Reds don’t appear to need a new big money signing of a goalkeeper this season at least.
