Liverpool on the verge of signing 18 year old Giorgi Mamardashvili replacement

It is all happening at Liverpool with little over 48 hours until the transfer window slams shut. Most of the focus has been on wide attackers. Bradley Barcola is on Merseyside finalising his move, with Cody Gakpo heading across the M62 to Manchester, seemingly set to make a surprise departure.

Meantime, the Reds are purportedly targeting both Crystal Palace's Ismaïla Sarr and Matias Fernandez-Pardo of LOSC Lille, albeit it remains to be seen if either of those deals can get over the line. While all this is going on, there could also been a major change to the Reds' goalkeeping ranks.

As first reported by Matteo Moretto of Marca, Nottingham Forest are chasing Liverpool back-up goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Tricky Trees have had a bid rejected by Crystal Palace as they attempted to bring Dean Henderson back to the City Ground, with Oliver Glasner seemingly feeling as though he needs an upgrade on Matz Sels. The Reds would, of course, only be able to allow the Georgian to leave if a replacement is signed, so have they identified who might well be?

Liverpool aiming to sign a new goalkeeper

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool have made Lucca Brughmans their number on target, if Mamardashvili does indeed depart. He adds that Bayern Munich are also interested in signing the teenager, as they seek a long-term successor to now 40 year old Manuel Neuer. Liverpool are though "convinced by the future potential" of the Genk goalkeeper, while Jack Lusby adds that Real Madrid are also "interested" in his signature.

Elsewhere, Fabrizio Romano notes that Liverpool could sign Brughmans now and loan him back to Belgium, as they did with Mamardashvili when he was first signed from Valencia. However, the Georgian's potential departure, which has come out of the blue, could accelerate this process.

So, who is Brughmans, and are Liverpool right to try and sign him?

The 18 year old bounced around various clubs across the low countries as a youth player, namely Royal Antwerp and PSV Eindhoven, before landing at Genk. Still only 18 years old, he has made just 15 senior appearances for de Smurfen's first-team, his debut coming as recently as 3 April. He started Genk's final 11 Jupiler Pro League matches of last season, as well as the first four to commence this campaign.

Across these matches, he has kept six clean sheets and conceded only 15 goals, of which four came during a thrilling 4-4 draw with Royal Antwerp at Bosuilstadion earlier this month. The most striking thing about Brughmans though is his height, officially 6ft 7in, or 201 cms if you prefer.

Also, there are not many goalkeepers regularly starting matches at a high level, as the Belgian top-flight is, at the age of just 18. To underline how young he is, Brughmans was born two days before the final of Euro 2008, in which Fernando Torres, then of Liverpool, was the only scorer as Spain beat Germany at Ernst-Happel-Stadion. Thus, he is clearly ultra-talented, but entrusting an 18 year old to be your back-up goalkeeper, considering how injury-prone Alisson tends to be, feels like a huge risk.

Liverpool's current goalkeepign depth chart

How would Iraola's goalkeeping squad look were Mamardashvili to depart and Brughmans arrive on Merseyside? Well, dealing with the Georgian first, when Liverpool paid €30 million to sign him from Valencia, he was one of the highest-rated young goalkeepers on the planet. However, after a nervy first season at Anfield, it looks as though he is going to be quickly cast aside, perhaps hastily.

Lower down the depth chart, Ármin Pécsi has joined TSV Hartberg on loan, but Freddie Woodman has signed a new contract. Harvey Davies is also sticking around to provide cover, while Vítězslav Jaroš could move on loan too.

Nevertheless, as already alluded to, Alisson always misses at least a dozen matches a season due to injury. Thus, perhaps more than any other elite club, Liverpool require a serviceable back-up. Whether or not Brughmans is ready to be just that, considering he has made only 15 senior appearances, remains to be seen!

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