Liverpool is reportedly close to securing a deal for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, but he won’t be joining Arne Slot’s squad this summer.
As per The Athletic, Liverpool remains fully confident in Alisson as their first-choice keeper, and signing Mamardashvili won’t threaten his position. The plan is for the Georgian goalkeeper to stay at Valencia until 2025.
This would make Mamardashvili an unusual first signing under Slot, with his arrival delayed until after the coach’s first season. What the team will look like by then is uncertain, but Slot’s tenure has started positively, with a Premier League win against Ipswich Town.
The potential signing has plenty of appeal, as Liverpool would be securing one of the top young goalkeeping talents. At $44m (£34m/€40m), it seems like a reasonable price for a potential long-term replacement for Alisson.
However, some might find it disappointing that the first major signing under Slot won’t contribute to the current squad, especially if no further transfers are made before the window closes in less than two weeks.
Several clubs, including Bournemouth, reportedly showed interest in taking Mamardashvili on loan once Liverpool secured him. However, Premier League rules prevent Liverpool from immediately loaning him to another team in the same division after signing him. Instead of seeking a complex solution, Liverpool has opted to leave the 23-year-old at Valencia, where he has excelled since joining in 2021.
