Exclusive: Liverpool target Giorgi Mamardashvili rejected Chelsea transfer this summer

Liverpool transfer target Giorgi Mamardashvili turned down a move to Chelsea this summer, Anfield Watch understands.

The Valencia shot-stopper caught the eye with his exploits between the sticks for Georgia during Euro 2024. He made an astonishing 11 saves in the 1-1 draw with Czechia, facing shots with an Expected Goals on Target total of four.

These performances didn’t go under the radar and Chelsea moved swiftly in an attempt to make him the latest goalkeeper to move to Stamford Bridge.

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The 23-year-old wasn’t swayed by the money on offer or convinced of the Chelsea project. He rejected their advances, just as Alisson Becker did before joining Liverpool in 2018,  and the Blues were forced to turn their attention the way of Filip Jörgensen. The Denmark under-21 international joined Chelsea last month.

According to new reports, Mamardashvili views a move to Liverpool as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and is hoping a deal can quickly be agreed.

The 21-cap Georgian moved to Valencia in 2021 from Dinamo Tbilisi having impressed on loan at Locomotive Tbilisi. The 6ft6 goalkeeper has been the No1 at the Mestella for the past two seasons and posted Alisson Becker-esque numbers in LaLiga last term having prevented 10.2 more goals than your average shot-stopper.

The goalkeeper market is a tricky one to navigate but if Liverpool can get Mamardashvili for €35million, they have a viable long-term Alisson replacement. The former Roma man has three years left on his existing deal at Anfield but his regular injuries may be a factor in the decision to move for Mamardashvili. It isn’t often that an opportunity such as this comes about.