Liverpool ‘step up goalkeeper hunt’ with Alisson and Jan Oblak as main targets after Loris Karius’ Champions League flop
Jurgen Klopp has made buying a new No 1 one of his priorities this summer, but it is even more important after Kiev final
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LIVERPOOL will step up their search for a new goalkeeper following Loris Karius' Champions League final horrorshow, according to reports.
Jurgen Klopp was always expected to move for a new man in between the sticks this summer.
But report Karius' two high profile mistakes have heightened the need for a new No 1 — with Jan Oblak and Alisson, both 25, the club's principle targets.
Karius, 24, had battled Simon Mignolet to be the main goalkeeper at Liverpool in the early part of the season.
And a string of assured performances saw him triumph over the Belgian and secure his place as the undisputed No 1 for season.
However, there were still question marks over his long-term capabilities, and those were laid bare with two ultimately decisive mistakes in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
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With the scores at 0-0, his throw-out was stopped and deflected into the net by quick-thinking Karim Benzema and Karius parried Gareth Bale's long-range effort in his own goal to make it 3-1.
He was clearly distraught at full-time and tweeted an apology to the Liverpool fans after the match.
Oblak has developed into one of the most assured goalkeepers in La Liga, but the Atletico Madrid man has a buy-out clause of around £87million.
Meanwhile, Liverpool saw Roma's Alisson close-up in their semi-final meeting, and the Brazilian will be starting ahead of Manchester City's Ederson at the World Cup.