Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has urged the Reds to seal a deal for Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge this summer.

The Philippines international was the Bluebirds’ standout performer in the Premier League last season, impressing with his consistent displays under Neil Warnock.

Cardiff’s relegation back to the Championship has alerted numerous sides over the possibility of signing the keeper, with Aston Villa and Liverpool thought to be keen on the shot-stopper.

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However, reports in the past week have claimed that the keeper is not on Jurgen Klopp’s radar, even though Simon Mignolet looks set to end his six-year association with the club this summer.

And talking to ESPN, cited by the Birmingham Mail, former Reds defender Nicol, who spent 13 years at Anfield between 1981-1994, insisted that a move for Etheridge would be a good move for Liverpool.

I think this would be a good signing. I think the 69 goals he [Etheridge] let in, he probably had no chance with 55 of them, let’s be honest.

Mignolet has to go, he has to go and play. You need a back-up who is going to be happy to be there but who is of a certain level that whenever something may happen to Alisson, you’re going to put Etheridge in and he’s going to do a great job.

Nicol continued to heap praise on Etheridge, adding:

He’s going to be professional. He’s not going to be pulling off spectacular saves but you know what you’re getting. He’s decent with his feet, he does all the basics right.

I think this is a good signing. He’s 29 years old, he’s been around, he knows what it’s like to be playing at the lower level so his feet will be firmly on the ground.

He’ll look at this as, ‘This solidifies my family’s future. If I come to Liverpool for five years, be professional, when I’m called upon do a professional job.’

If Mignolet does depart Anfield over the summer, Liverpool will more than likely be in the market for a back-up to Brazilian star Alisson, however, despite Nicol’s recent claims, it doesn’t look like Etheridge will be making the move to Merseyside.


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