Liverpool to rival Real Madrid for Belgian shot-stopper

Liverpool could reportedly offer stiff competition to Real Madrid in the race to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois this summer. The Belgium international has just a year remaining on his Blues deal and talks over an extension appear to have reached an impasse.
According to Don Balon, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is aware of the need to strengthen the goalkeeping department this summer and this could see him make an approach to lure Courtois from Stamford Bridge.
However, long-term admirers Los Blancos are also understood to be in the hunt for the keeper owing to his preference to return to Madrid, and the Merseyside outfit may just be able to get one over the European champions, if everything goes to plan.
The Reds have not possessed a truly class goalkeeper since the days of Pepe Reina and the likes of Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius have since flattered to deceive with blunders every now and then.
More so, Karius had to face the wrath of the club’s supporters following the Champions League final after the German was at fault for two calamitous errors which cost the team dearly in a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid.
Since the end of the season, Liverpool have placed a genuine emphasis on bolstering their weak links and the recent signing of Fabinho would certainly add more steel to the midfield where Naby Keita is also expected to be involved next season.
The Merseyside giants secured a pre-agreement with RB Leipzig for the Guinea international last summer and the Reds are expected to confirm his official arrival when the international transfer window reopens.
Meanwhile, the arrival of a new shot-stopper this summer could witness the departure of Simon Mignolet, who was frustrated with a bench role towards the backend of the campaign.
There has been no clear interest in the former Sunderland man but the Belgian would surely not want to play as the second or third-choice goalkeeper to Courtois, who already runs the rule over him at the international level.