Most of the talk during this (northern) Summer has been about us considering a likely 50+ mil move for Roma's Alisson to address doubts about our current options at the position. But many of us who think we need a new option at starting GK, also have doubts about paying such a high fee for someone who hasn't been exceedingly convincing. Should this really be Plan A? And considering Alisson seems to prefer a move to Madrid, what is Plan B?
In my opinion, there are really only five premium goalkeepers in world football at the moment deserving of a 50+ mil move: De Gea, Neuer, Courtois, Oblak, and Ederson. With Oblak recently signing a new long-term deal, Courtois is the only remotely realistic option among those available to us (due to only having a year left on his contract, and Chelsea not qualifying for the CL this year, and prospects of them doing so consistently in the near future doubtful). If Madrid sign Allison (and PSG have FFP issues), Chelsea don't really have anyone else they can sell him to. Their only other option is risking losing Courtois on a free (or cash in late but less by offloading him to us in the Winter window, like Arsenal did with Sanchez).
So if we don't end up getting Allison, and we don't get Courtois this window, what do we do?
There has been talk of Thomas Strakosha from Lazio. I don't mind him, but still feel he parries the ball too much for my liking, so I'd still have doubts until he shows us otherwise. A fee under 25 mil isn't unreasonable, but talks of it taking 35 mil to secure him seems like a roll of the dice for us that is too dear. Other than Alisson and Strakosha, the only other target particularly mentioned in the press that seems obtainable is Nick Pope from Burnley.
Now bear with me. I know he's not a sexy signing. I know he's not necessarily the alpha dog type of keeper I'd normally beat the drum for. But if an obvious one of such is unavailable to us, what do we really need from the position? Do we really need Inspector Gadget in goals? The best shot stopper in world football? The best with the ball at his feet? The biggest reputation? The most expensive? Or do we just need solid and reliable? Do we just need someone with good temperament and judgement, and seemingly not error prone?
When Tom Heaton went down for Burnley last year, his replacement was none of the things Liverpool fans seem to be calling for at the moment to fill our position of need. It was Nick Pope. A nobody. Just another body. And he came in and did a job, was one of the best keepers in the PL last season (visually and stats-wise), and Burnley will be playing European football in the coming year after Pope finishes up at the WC.
So if we can't get a proven premium keeper, is paying a premium for a lesser keeper really the best strategy for us? Perhaps we're better off with more bodies. More excrement to throw at the wall to see which actually sticks. More tickets in the raffle, to improve our chances of actually winning. Instead of blowing a huge fee on Alisson, why not spend less on two or more bodies?
My other choice at this point of time is Arsenal target, Bernd Leno from Leverkusen. Every time I've seen him (and admittedly it's not as often as I'd like to have), he has played with the kind of swagger and confidence I'd much rather see in one of our keepers (and which Mignolet and Karius desperately lack). He is reasonably commanding and a decent communicator (once again, especially compared to our two). He's a good shot stopper too.
Would it really be absurd to sign Leno (25 mil) and Pope (15 mil) for less than what we'd have to pay for Alisson? Would that not be the better play for us? Sell Mignolet, and loan out either Ward or Karius (with Pope being homegrown we could do either). Personally, I'd rather see Karius potentially get a full season elsewhere, and let Leno and Pope bring a fresh culture to our keepers room as they compete for the starting role without former starters being around.
Thoughts?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha31HIn1udEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1ioLqh_r4s
