Liverpool have completed the £4.7million transfer of goalkeeper Loris Karius from Bundesliga outfit Mainz. The 22-year-old will be the second player to agree to join the Reds this summer, after Schalke’s Joel Matip agreed to a move to Anfield.
Karius has signed a long-term contract with the Reds and the youngster could prove to be a bargain from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. The ‘keeper has been handed the number one jersey at Liverpool and will compete with Belgian international Simon Mignolet for the first choice spot.
Mignolet has been heavily criticised by fans and media alike, but was handed a new contract earlier this season. The arrival of a bright young prospect like Karius may just put Mignolet’s future at Anfield in doubt.
Karius arrives on Merseyside as a highly-rated young ‘keeper. The former-Germany under-21 had a spell in the Manchester City youth team earlier in his career. He has developed well in Germany since moving back to his homeland in 2011.
Last season Karius played every league game and kept nine clean sheets in the Bundesliga, as Mainz finished in sixth in the German top-flight. The youngster has been Mainz first choice for the last few seasons and seems confident of his own ability.
Current first choice ‘keeper Mignolet has a habit of making silly errors that lead to the Reds losing goals in his Liverpool career. The Belgian has had little competition, with Adam Bogdan proving he is not good enough and youngster Danny Ward still inexperienced.
Signing a new ‘keeper was one of Liverpool’s priorities for this summer and Karius may well provide the answer to the Reds keeping problems.