Report: Liverpool preparing £26m bid for Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha

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Premier League giants Liverpool need a new goalkeeper and have reportedly identified Serie A and Lazio ace Thomas Strakosha as Anfield’s number one.

Jan Oblak has a £100 million release clause in his contract while Roma are demanding £79 million for Alisson Becker, according to the Guardian. No wonder Liverpool are scouring the transfer market as they look for a new goalkeeper who will not cost an arm and a leg.

Mundo Deportivo claimed this week that the Reds are keen on Barcelona’s Jasper Cillessen. The Dutchman, who has played just two La Liga games in two years, will be cheaper than either Oblak or Alisson but the £50 million release clause in his contract is still rather steep.

So it seems that Liverpool have turned their attention towards Lazio shot-stopper Thomas Strakosha. Cittaceleste reported on Wednesday that the 23-year-old Albanian, who played every one of Lazio’s 38 Serie A games last season, was on Jurgen Klopp’s radar.

And, in reports provided by Tuttomercatoweb, it is understood that Liverpool are preparing a bid of around £26 million.

While far less expensive than Oblak, Alisson and Cillessen, this would still make Strakosha the fourth most expensive goalkeeper of all time behind Ederson, Gianluigi Buffon and Jordan Pickford, who plays for Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton.

Strakosha, who signed a contract until 2022 last October, broke into Lazio’s first-team during 2016/17 and shone as Simone Inzaghi’s side enjoyed a fantastic, if slightly unsatisfying, campaign last time out.

They missed out on qualifying for the Champions League thanks to a final day home defeat to Inter Milan, lost the Coppa Italia semi-final to AC Milan on penalties and capitulated in the Europa League quarters against Red Bull Salzburg.