The Premier League suspension has given Adrian some time to recover from what has been a bad week between the sticks at Liverpool.
The Spaniard has played a big part in the Reds’ elimination from both the FA Cup and the Champions League. It was his weak save that allowed Chelsea’s Willian to score the opener in the fifth round of the former, whilst his poor clearance to Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix ended with the ball in the back of the net in the Merseyside club’s 3-2 loss in the latter.
After only signing for the club last summer, he has already had an overall negative impact.
At the moment, his place in the squad seems untenable, at least in the long-term. As such, the Anfield outfit would need another shot-stopper to come in and take his place. If reports are to be believed, it seems they have already been trying to bring in a new man for between the sticks – Trabzonspor’s Ugurcan Cakir.
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According to Lee Congerton, Leicester City’s head of recruitment, Liverpool made a €25m (£22.3m) bid for the Turkey international, who is “one of the best goalkeepers” he has ever seen.
Given Adrian’s recent struggles and age – he is 33 – it seems likely that a new goalkeeper will be needed to provide at least cover – and potentially competition – for Alisson, and Cakir could be that man. In the Super Lig this term, he has managed a 76.9% save percentage ratio, which is not only fourth in the whole division, but also well ahead of Adrian’s 64.3%.
He has also conceded just 26 times in 25 matches in the league which, with a ratio of 1.1 goals against per 90 minutes, is also the fourth-best in the league.
Even better than that, he is just 23 years old, meaning he has plenty of time ahead of him to get even better. It seems a no-brainer, and in the long-term, Jurgen Klopp needs to be able to rely on his alternative to Alisson. Cakir could be just the ticket.
Meanwhile, this Reds man crumbled under the pressure against Atletico.