As new summer signing Giorgi Mamardashvili isn’t set to join the Reds until next season, many fans have turned their attention to Liverpool’s primary players.
However, that does not mean that the club have totally forgotten about the Georgian, as a new report claims Liverpool had senior officials in attendance at Valencia’s 0-0 draw against Osasuna last night.
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In what was his second consecutive clean sheet, Mamardashvili is showing exactly why he has been considered Liverpool’s long-term replacement for Alisson Becker, who has been dynamite between the sticks for seven years now.
Following an impressive European Championship campaign for Georgia, the 23-year-old was bought by the club £25.1million, on the condition that he remain on loan at Valencia until next season.
According to Nacho Sanchis for Relevo, Liverpool sent out officials to keep en eye on the player, as part of his ‘season of examination’ where the club will ‘evaluate to what extent he can be a starter for the club next year’.
🏴Mamardashvilo supera con éxito el primer examen del Liverpool.
Miembros del club inglés estuvieron en Mestalla y con él estos días. Portería a 0, 2ª del curso.
Temporada clave para su rol del año que viene allí. @relevo https://t.co/v1tNwKfPmx
— Nacho Sanchis (@sanchis14) September 24, 2024
According to the report, Mamardashvili has received ‘constant sign of affection from the club’ and will even receive a small bonus from the Reds on top of his current salary which is a bit of a surprise but one that will please the loan star.
Mamardashvili’s contract at Liverpool is until 2030, with Valencia currently paying the same wages he was on last season and the Reds supplementing the additional bonus they offered him as part of the agreement.
There remains the possibility that Mamardashvili goes on loan to a lesser Premier League team next season before slotting into Alisson’s position in the future.
How does Mamardashvili fit into Liverpool’s plans?
While most fans will not want to see Alisson leave the club anytime soon, as his shot-stopping ability has saved Liverpool many a time when in tense moments, the club have begun looking at future planning.
The Georgian is widely considered to be one of the next big goalkeepers in the world, and for a reasonable fee, the deal looks like good business from the club in securing the young talent’s services.
While Caoimhin Kelleher has recently spoken out about his desire to play regular first-team football instead of being Liverpool’s No2, it looks like the Irishman may be on his way out – a move no one can really begrudge him for wanting, after sacrificing much of his career as a benchwarmer for the Reds and stepping up when called upon.
As a result, this would guarantee Mamardashvili a spot in the squad, albeit where he plays is still in doubt.
Liverpool continue to monitor prized asset
Spending money on a secondary goalkeeper would certainly be a bizarre move, so it seems Liverpool’s vision is to have him play a key role for the team at some point, but displacing Alisson will not be an easy task.
There may come a point where Alisson is injured for a substantial period of time, or where his performances drop to a level below Liverpool’s high standards, but at eventually something will have to give.
Until then, Liverpool will continue to monitor their prized new asset and with back-to-back clean sheets, he is certainly making his mark.
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