Recalled Liverpool loanee can be perfect Kelleher replacement
Euro 2024 provides new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot with the opportunity to not only run the rule over potential summer signings but to also save the club millions of pounds.
From Joao Neves to Federico Chiesa, there are a number of players being linked with a move to the Merseyside giants who are expected to play a key role for their respective nations during the tournament and it's likely that supporters will watch on with a keen eye.
At the same time, there will be equal interest in how Liverpool's first-team stars fare in Germany. Captain Virgil van Dijk is one of three players named in the Netherlands squad and he is set to come up against Ibrahima Konate in the group stage as his club teammate has been called up by France.
Elsewhere, Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to be handed a new role in the England set-up, Andrew Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai are on course to meet in Group A whilst Diogo Jota will hope to be a key figure for Portugal as they aim to repeat their success from 2016.
With that said, one name to potentially keep a close eye on is Vitezslav Jaros. The goalkeeper has been named in the Czechia squad for this summer's tournament and made his international debut in the 7-1 thrashing of Malta on Friday night.
The call-up is reward for an impressive second half of the 2023/24 season where he was loaned out to Sturm Graz to aid his development and cemented himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the division by helping his loan club win a league and cup double.
Jaros can solve Liverpool problem
Having signed a new contract with Liverpool back in January before heading out on loan, Jaros is expected to return for pre-season training at some point in July and his debut for Czechia is a timely reminder to Slot that he's an option if there is to be a goalkeeping clearout this summer with Adrian and Caoimhin Kelleher likely to depart.
Crucially, as Jaros joined the Liverpool academy from Slavia Prague in 2017, he meets the requirements to qualify as a homegrown player which is perfect with regard to Premier League and UEFA Champions League squads for next season.
So it could be that instead of dipping into the market to sign a replacement if both Kelleher and Adrian leave this summer, Slot can turn to Jaros to fill the void especially if the 22-year-old gets an opportunity at the Euros to improve on his seven clean sheets in 21 appearances for Sturm Graz.