Newcastle United transfer target Odysseas Vlachodimos caught Jurgen Klopp’s eye during Liverpool’s 3-1 UEFA Champions League quarter-final victory over Benfica in Lisbon, speaking to BT Sport.
Benfica boss Nelson Verissimo can thank his lucky stars that the days of ‘away goals’ counting for double in European competition are in the past.
Because, with Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz scoring at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night, Liverpool would be all-but assured of a place in the semis already in any other season.
For Benfica, it’s less a case of ‘Mission Impossible’ and more ‘Mission Improbable’ ahead of next week’s return leg.
The hosts had their moments. Coveted centre-forward Darwin Nunez caused havoc and threatened to make a game of it when he halved Liverpool’s advantage following a Konate blunder.
But if it wasn’t for their German-born Greek international between the sticks, 3-1 could easily have become four or five.
Newcastle’s next goalkeeper?
“The goalie (Vlachodimos) was probably the best player,” Klopp says of a man who made five saves on the night, including one to deny substitute Diogo Jota at the death.
“They played a really good game, but the goalie was the best player. He made a couple of really good saves.
“With the situations we had we usually score more, but we didn’t, I think mainly because of the goalie. Credit to him. And that’s pretty much the story.”
Before the game, the £30 million-rated Vlachodimos was asked by Kicker about reports suggesting he’s in talks over a summer move to St James’ Park.
Amanda Staveley is reportedly leading negotiations for the former Stuttgart man, with The Mirror (5 December, page 70) reporting that nouveau-riche Newcastle are ready to spend a big fee on the one-time Sheffield United target.
Vlachodimos was reluctant to give anything away about Newcastle’s apparent interest however.
Another virtuoso performance next week at Anfield, however, and Kicker won’t be the only publication searching for an exclusive.
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