Barcelona ready to make SHOCK move for 'PHENOMENAL' Liverpool star

Liverpool’s goalkeeper situation has been a hot topic so far in this early season.

The signing of Georgia’s Euro 2024 hero Giorgi Mamardashvili - delayed until the start of next season - has raised questions about both the long term futures of no.1 Alisson Becker and backup Caoimhin Kelleher.

Only recently was Kelleher complaining to the Irish press around his circumstances, with Liverpool rejecting an offer from Nottingham Forest in the recent transfer window to retain the Irish shot-stopper’s services.

Read more: Arne Slot drops massive Federico Chiesa hint ahead of West Ham tie

And now Spanish outlet Fichajes are reporting that Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is eyeing Alisson as a long-term replacement for the recently-injured Marc-Andre ter Stergen.

Ter Stergen suffered a ruptured patella tendon in this past Sunday’s game against Villarreal, leaving the Spanish side with scarcely-capped Iñaki Peña as their only goalkeeping option.

The report claims that the signing of Alisson 'would not be excessively expensive, although his high salary would require careful negotiation'. Barcelona have notoriously had issues registering players because of financial constraints in recent seasons. With Alisson reportedly earning £150,000 a week, the Brazilian's signature would not be a given for the Catalan side even if he was open to leaving Merseyside.

Liverpool have had their own goalkeeper injury problems, with Alisson missing the last Premier League fixture against Bournemouth and Arne Slot confirming he won’t play in the League Cup Third Round affair against West Ham either. This comes after the Brazilian missed 19 games last year with a hamstring injury.

Last season, Micah Richards raved about Alisson's qualities, describing him as a 'phenomenal' goalkeeper on the Rest is Football podcast.

“Alisson in the Premier League has been phenomenal,” said the former Manchester City defender. “Even last season when Liverpool wasn’t playing that well, Van Dijk was injured and getting back to his best, he was the key man every single week.

“The amount of saves he makes for his team, and not just basic saves, we’re talking incredible saves. If we’re talking just the league, I’m going to go with Alisson [as the best].”

However, his deputy Kelleher has proved himself a worthy back-up and added to this reputation at the weekend, totting up six saves in an eventful game against Bournemouth. The Irishman made 26 appearances in all competitions for the Redmen last season and has set his eyes on becoming a full-time starter.

At 23-years old and with Alisson’s monetary value starting to diminish, Mamardashvili was certainly signed with an eye on the future. Whilst a move on from the long-tenured shot-stopper would be a surprise in January, the future may be upon us much sooner than any Red thought.