Liverpool’s proposed £30 million transfer has been given the seal of approval of a legend.
And Arne Slot will be hoping that – after another frustrating summer at Anfield was summed up by Martin Zubimendi opting to stay put at Real Sociedad – the words of the iconic Otar Gabelia hold plenty of weight.
The Dinamo Tibilsi hero won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup with the Georgian giants in 1981. He is regarded by many as perhaps the best goalkeeper his country have ever produced.
Well, that was until the emergence of Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Valencia’s number one is rapidly emulating Gabelia’s success. Some may argue that he has exceeded it already. After all, unlike the 1979 Soviet Goalkeeper of the Year, Mamardashvili has made a name for himself outside of Eastern Europe.
The 23-year-old has been quietly superb for Valencia over the last few seasons.
Some stellar performances during Euro 2024 – shining alongside Khvicha Kvaratshkelia and Georges Mikautadze as Georgia reached the knockout rounds – served only to introduce Mamardashvili’s ‘outstanding’ shot-stopping talents to a mainstream audience.
Something Gabelia never really achieved.
Liverpool close in on Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili
HITC understands that Liverpool have now agreed a deal in principle that could see Mamardashvili inherit the gloves of Alisson Becker at Anfield.
Alisson is not getting any younger and, at the age of 31, has courted Saudi Arabian interest.
Liverpool see Mamardashvili as a potentially ‘readymade’ successor, though the one-time Bayern Munich target is not due to arrive on Merseyside until the summer of 2025 at the earliest.
“Georgi is a very smart boy, and he has a very smart father,” Gabelia tells Crystal Sport in response to his compatriot’s impending Liverpool switch. “(Mamardashvili’s father) is a former goalkeeper and a good friend of mine.
“So, he will weigh in carefully and then (help to) make the final decision).
“It is absolutely right to ask any team that is interested in him for guarantees (that he will play). I will be happy if he goes to Liverpool because I hold such an attitude.”
Mamardashvili could spend the remainder of 2024/25 on loan at AFC Bournemouth.
Liverpool feel that he would benefit from familiarising himself with English football before taking Alisson’s place.
Gabelia, meanwhile, believes that Mamardashvili may have already overtaken Alisson in the rankings of Europe’s finest glovesmen. Likened to Real Madrid glovesman Thibaut Courtois due to his remarkable reach and stunning reflexes, the Georgia legend insists that no one can touch Mamardashvili based on his form throughout 2023/24.
Alisson Becker’s Anfield replacement
“Is he the best in his position in Europe?” Gabelia wonders. “No goalkeeper has played better than him on the continent, as evidenced by his number of saves.”
Mamardashvili was serenaded by the Valencia supporters during last weekend’s 2-1 La Liga defeat to Barcelona, urging him to do like Zubimendi and resist Liverpool’s advances.
Director Miguel Angel Corona, meanwhile, insists that Los Che will simply enjoy his talents for as long as they can.
“It’s fantastic how they want him (to stay),” Corona says in response to those chants, via Super Deporte. “The market says he’s a great player. If he’s playing, it’s because there’s nothing else (in terms of an imminent transfer).
“There’s strong interest in him in the market. He’s with us, for now.”
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