Liverpool finalising deal to sign Adrian as replacement for departed Simon Mignolet 
Liverpool are set to sign the former West Ham and Real Betis goalkeeper Adrian to replace the departed Simon Mignolet. Mignolet joined Club Brugge on Sunday evening and Liverpool have reacted swiftly to recruit the 32-year-old Spaniard. The club is working to finalise a deal so Adrian can immediately be announced as the back-up to Alisson Becker. Adrian left West Ham after six years during the summer and is a free agent, so it will be a cut-price deal to bring him to Anfield. Liverpool have to act after reluctantly agreeing to Mignolet’s desire to leave, the Belgian returning to his own country in a deal initially worth £6 million but that could rise to nearer £8m based on his performances. The 31-year-old made no secret of his desire to no longer be a deputy to Alisson. He communicated this to Jurgen Klopp when he returned for pre-season but his position was dependant on an acceptable bid and the ability to satisfactorily replace him. With Liverpool facing Norwich City in the Premier League opener on Friday, Adrian has to be in place soon to ensure Klopp is not a goalkeeper light. Mignolet was an unused sub in Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, after he which he made a quick dash across the channel to finalise his move. It was announced just three hours after his departure from Wembley. Brugge wanted the keeper in time to play their Champions League qualifier against Dynamo Kiev, who they meet on Tuesday.
Mignolet moved to Merseyside from Sunderland in 2013, quickly establshing himself in Brendan Rodgers’ side as they went close to the Premier League title.
But he was always fighting to retain his status and the arrival of Klopp in 2015 led to competition for the number one spot intensifying.
Klopp first signed Loris Karius to replace the Belgian. When Karius’ Anfield career ended with the ignominy of a dire Champions League final performance, Liverpool paid £65 million for current number one Alisson.
Mignolet knew it was the beginning of the end then and has been assessing his options ever since.
His most recent competitive performances were restricted to domestic cup games, Liverpool making an early exit in the FA Cup and League Cup last season.
Adrian faced similar frustrations at the London Stadium. The signing of Lukasz Fabianski a year ago relegated his role at West Ham and there was no desire to extend his contract. He was released during the summer but could not have imagined the opportunity that would present itself on Merseyside.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/08/05/liverpool-finalising-deal-sign-adrian-replacement-departed-simon/ [ 此帖被羅力亞在2019-08-05 21:24重新編輯 ]
