Liverpool make DECISION on Adrian replacement after 37-year-old confirms Anfield exit
Liverpool have come to a decision on how to replace departing goalkeeper Adrian this summer, according to a new report.
The Spanish stopper was out of contract this summer but did receive a new proposal from Liverpool to continue his time at Anfield, despite the fact that he didn't play a single minute last term.
However, the 37-year-old opted against putting pen to paper with Liverpool and is set to join boyhood club Real Betis for the final chapter of his career.
The veteran made 26 appearances for the Reds after arriving on a free transfer back in 2019, with his most memorable outing his debut in which he was the penalty shootout hero in the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea.
Adrian's departure poses Liverpool a dilemma heading into the transfer window, especially with Caoimhin Kelleher potentially on the move too, but it appears the Reds have decided to replace the former West Ham man from within.
LIVERPOOL TO PROMOTE VITEZSLAV JAROS
According to The Athletic's James Pearce, Liverpool will replace Adrian with young 22-year-old stopper Vitezslav Jaros, who has been at the club since 2017.
Pearce wrote: "With Adrian moving on, Liverpool intend to promote young goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros to Arne Slot’s squad."
The goalkeeper, who has been on four different loan spells since joining the Reds from Slavia Prague's academy, is yet to make a single senior appearance for Liverpool.
However, while yet to make his Liverpool debut, Jaros enjoyed an incredibly fruitful loan spell at Austrian side Sturm Graz last season, helping the club win a league and cup double.
Jaros made 21 appearances for the club and even earned a place in Czechia's Euro 2024 squad as a result of his stellar displays, making his international debut in one of their pre-tournament friendlies in early June.
He averaged a clean sheet every three matches with Sturm Graz, conceding just 20 times during his six-month loan spell.
It makes sense to give Jaros a shot in the Liverpool first team next season, although how many minutes he will rack up remains to be seen.
But Liverpool may still need to dip into the market to sign a new goalkeeper this summer, with back-up stopper Kelleher increasingly likely to leave the club.
The Irishman, who now has 47 Liverpool games under his belt, has admitted that he is ready to leave Anfield in order to become a first-choice stopper somewhere else.