Liverpool: Liverpool have had an improved bid of 75 million euros (Dh320 million) for Alisson accepted by Serie A side Roma and are close to sealing a world-record deal for the Brazil goalkeeper. The Premier League club made an initial 70 million bid for the Brazilian on Tuesday, which was rejected, but the clubs have now reached a deal and Liverpool are making arrangements for the 25-year-old’s medical.
Liverpool and Roma were in talks on Wednesday, ironing out details over how the fee will be structured.
Chelsea were ready to move for Alisson if Belgium No. 1 Thibaut Courtois departed for Real Madrid but Liverpool have acted swiftly in an attempt to secure their target. Chelsea had, by Wednesday morning, not made an offer. Alisson spoke to the Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, on Tuesday and has his heart set on a move to the Champions League finalists.
The Brazil international will replace Loris Karius as Klopp’s No. 1. The goalkeeping position as been problematic at the club for several years and neither Karius nor Simon Mignolet has convinced the German manager that they are a long-term solution.
Karius received severe criticism after two errors gifted Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale goals in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Champions League final win in May, but Klopp was already considering a new No. 1 before that poor performance. Tentative inquiries for Alisson were rebuffed during the January transfer window.
Karius has received public support from his manager, but he made another error in the pre-season friendly at Tranmere Rovers last week.
Alisson joined Roma from Internacional in 2016 for 7.5 million euros. He spent the first season as Wojciech Szczesny’s back-up and did not play a league game. Last season, after the Pole left for Juventus, Alisson became first choice and contributed towards Roma reaching the Champions League semi-finals, where they were eliminated by Liverpool.
Alisson would become Liverpool’s fourth summer signing after the arrivals of Naby Ke-ta from RB Leipzig, Fabinho from Monaco and Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke City. The fee for Allison would be a record for a goalkeeper, eclipsing the 53 million paid by Juventus for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001 and the 40 million it cost Manchester City to buy Ederson from Benfica last summer.
— Guardian News & Media Ltd, with inputs from agencies
