Liverpool Transfer News: Keylor Navas Rumours, Saido Berahino Price Named
Despite Simon Mignoletโs recent upturn in form, Liverpool reportedly remain on the lookout for goalkeeping reinforcements this summer.
Indeed, according to Bruce Archer of the Express, the Reds will battle it out with Arsenal to land Real Madridโs Keylor Navas.
The piece claims that the Anfield club are still unconvinced by the Belgium international and will swoop for the Costa Rica World Cup star. Navas has only made six appearances for Los Blancos, as noted by the piece, and his agent is quoted as saying that the player "has told Real Madrid he wants to leave."
Hereโs a look at why a goalkeeper of Navasโ calibre is too good to be sitting on the bench week in, week out:
There are few โkeepers on the planet who could rock up at Real Madrid and dislodge Iker Casillas from the starting spot, so you suspect the former Levante man would have been well aware of the role heโd be playing at the Santiago Bernabeu when he signed from Levante.
But if he was to push for a move in the summer, thereโs good reason for the Reds to be interested.ย As we can see here courtesy of RMadridHome, Navas was given the award for the best goalkeeper in La Liga earlier in the season ahead of the likes of Casillas and Thibaut Courtois:
"Congratulations to Keylor Navas who has won the BEST GOALKEEPER award for the 2013/2014 La Liga season! #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/o6ek9UjT2p
โ RMadridHรธme (@RMadridHome) October 27, 2014"
To get him to Anfield would represent a real coup for Liverpool. Navas isnโt just a fine shot stopper, but his assurance when commanding his area makes him an immediate upgrade on Mignolet, as does his pinpoint distribution. At just 28 years old, he has plenty of years left in him at the top, too.
You suspect strengthening that area of his team will be a priority for Rodgers this summer, but after the tribulations suffered by his centre-forward options this season, heโll most likely move to bolster that position, too.
And it looks as if the Reds are to be handed a timely boost in their pursuit of West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino.
According to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, the Baggies are willing to cash in on their star centre-forward in the summer and will listen to offers of ยฃ20 million for the 21-year-old.
If they do sell, then there will be a big void for Tony Pulis to fill; as we can see here courtesy of Sky Sports News HQ, Berahino has contributed to a substantialย portion of this teamโs goals so far this season:
As noted in the aforementioned piece, Berahino gave an interview without the clubโs permission in which he was unashamedly ambitious about the progress he can make in the game:
"Iโm taking care of my short-term goals right now and if I keep scoring goals and doing well for West Brom, I know the future will be bright for me and Iโll go a long way.
I need to stay focused on what Iโm doing right now, which is scoring the goals and keeping West Brom in the Premier League. If I can keep them up and score as many goals as I can, Iโm pretty sure the fans wouldnโt mind me pushing on and moving on to bigger things.
"
From Liverpoolโs perspective, Berahino would be an intriguing addition. Rodgers has shown in his tenure as manager that he is adept at moulding young English talent, and heโd be hopeful of expediting refinements in the West Brom manโs game comparable to those of Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson.
As noted by Squawka Football earlier in the season, Berahino is one of the most prolific English players in the Premier League so far:
A ยฃ20 million premium may seem steep, but as a bright, young, English talent, thatโs the going rate for players like Berahino.
At 21 years old, Liverpool could potentially get plenty of years from him, but whether or not theyโre willing to stump up an amount as extortionate as the aforementioned fee ultimately depends on Rodgersโ final assessment of the player.
