“He’s the Jan that I want!” Why Liverpool must sign Jan Oblak
Not since Pepe Reina under Rafa Benetiz have Liverpool had a goalkeeper capable of being a golden gloves contender.
As much as we feel for Loris Karius and his tragic night in Kiev, and as much as we saw the huge improvement in his game in the lead up to that final and as much as he ticks many of Jurgen’s boxes; young, german and with room to improve, if Liverpool are serious about challenging for the title, they need to do exactly what they did with Virgil Van Dijk.
The defence had lacked confidence and real leadership since the retirement of Jamie Carragher in 2013 and after a number of acquisitions and false dawns, the Reds bit the bullet and spent big on the best defender in the Premier League.
The results spoke for themselves. It’s time the Reds did the same with a goalkeeper. No more being astute, no more searching for a bargain. It is time to spend big on a big player. That player is Jan Oblak.
The Slovenian stopper has been the La Liga Zamora trophy winner the past three seasons, keeping more clean sheets than any other. In the 2015-16 season, he set a new La Liga record for least goals conceded in a single campaign as he was beaten just eighteen times.
At 25-years-old, Oblak could be Liverpool’s first choice keeper for the next ten years if they signed him. Many sources report that the Reds have been priced out of the move, stating Atletico Madrid want upwards of £90m.
With this in mind, there has been much talk of Jurgen Klopp sticking with what he has.
After four seasons on Merseyside, Simon Mignolet looks destined to leave as his number one spot has been taken by Karius. This leaves us with forgotten man Danny Ward, who performed so well in Huddersfield Town’s promotion push of 2016-17, and Karius to fight it out for the number one spot next season, much to the bemusement of many Reds’ fans.
As we have seen with Naby Keita and Virgil Van Dijk, if Klopp is unable to get the man he wants at the time he wants them and the price he wants, he is willing to wait, however, I feel the time for waiting is over.
If Liverpool are serious about a title challenge, they’re going to have to pay for it.