Liverpool outcast Simon Mignolet is reportedly on the radar of London outfit Crystal Palace, who are lining up an £8 million swoop for him.
According to a report by London Evening Standard, Simon Mignolet is attracting interest from Crystal Palace. The South London outfit believe that the Liverpool outcast will be available for just £8 million in this summer’s transfer window, with the Reds identifying possible replacements.
Simon Mignolet joined Liverpool from Sunderland in the summer of 2013 and was immediately named as the first-choice goalkeeper by then-manager Brendan Rodgers. After making some key contributions to the Merseyside club’s bid for the Premier League title in his maiden season at Anfield, he subsequently became a frustrating figure at the club.
With a tendency to make inexplicable errors starting to creep into his game, Mignolet barely held on to his place until the arrival of Loris Karius. But, with the German also continuing in a similar pattern, bar a short period in the 2017-18 season, Liverpool decided sign another goalkeeper.
Alisson Becker joined the Reds last summer in a then-world record transfer for a goalkeeper and went on to justify the hefty price tag by playing a key role in the club’s successful 2018-19 season. Winning the Golden Glove in the Premier League meant he was one of the best goalkeepers in the division, while he also helped Liverpool in their quest for a sixth Champions League title.
With Alisson finally being the solution to the troublesome goalkeeping slot at Anfield, Mignolet found his game time being restricted to just two games all season. And so, it hardly comes as a surprise that the Belgian outcast could be on his way out of the Merseyside club this summer, having not been able to do so last summer due to Karius’ loan move to Besiktas.
This time around, however, Liverpool appear to be identifying possible replacement options for the 31-year-old, with Southampton custodian Alex McCarthy one of their top targets. As for Mignolet’s suitors, Crystal Palace are the latest club to be linked.
The interest from the London outfit, however, comes as a bit of a surprise, with Vicente Guaita well settled as the first-choice goalkeeper, while Wayne Hennessey is his backup. So, it is hard to see why the Eagles are pursuing a move for the Liverpool outcast.
The report claims that Palace are lining up an £8 million move for Mignolet, although some other reports have quashed those suggestions, saying Liverpool do not intend to sell him.
For all intents and purposes, Crystal Palace’s reported interest in Simon Mignolet does not make a great deal of sense. But, it remains to be seen if the South London club do launch the offensive for the veteran Belgian and in such a scenario it will be interesting to see if Liverpool accept their offer.
