While the Liverpool target stopped short of spelling out exactly what his future plans were, he certainly sounded rather non-commital.
‘We’ll see’ might not be an answer that gives too much away.
But surely if was planning to stay put and distance himself from the speculation, Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin would have been a little more forthright.
Instead – benched for the Champions League final for the returning Thibaut Courtois and having made no secret of his desire to play first-team football week-in, week-out – Lunin’s ‘we’ll see’ response feels less dismissive and more of a hint that difficult decisions may be just around the corner, per Marca.
HITC understands that Liverpool have identified Lunin as a potential replacement for Alisson Becker should the worst-case scenario arrive and the brilliant Brazilian is lured away from Anfield by the head-spinning money on offer in Saudi Arabia.
Also on the list is Justin Bijlow – the goalkeeper who helped Arne Slot’s Feyenoord win the Eredivisie in 2023 – and Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson, although the latter may be more likely to succeed Coaimhin Kelleher should Liverpool’s number two say his goodbyes.
Liverpool eye Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin
In an ideal world, Lunin would stay in Madrid.
But his rather brutal benching for that Champions League triumph over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley may have raised more questions than it provided answers for the former Dnipro man. His reward for an outstanding campaign on route to the final a place among the substitute’s once Courtois returned from his ACL injury.
“I want to stay, but my future is in the hands of the club,” Lunin says, via Fabrizio Romano on . “Courtois is one of the best but I want to play.”
While Liverpool are scouring the market for potential Alisson replacements – refusing to leave anything to chance – Real Madrid are doing something similar.
Mundo Deportivo reports that Los Blancos have succession plan in place themselves should Lunin opt to pursue a fresh start away from the Santiago Bernabeu. If Lunin leaves, Real will look to bring Kepa Arrizabalaga back to Madrid.
Kepa could bring an end to Chelsea nightmare
The £72 million Chelsea misfit spent last season on loan at Real but played only 20 games after being knocked down the pecking order by his rival shot-stopper.
Still, Kepa has earned enough trust for Real to consider turning his loan into a permanent transfer, Chelsea expected to cash in and accept a massive loss on a man who has just one year left on his Stamford Bridge contract.
“Of course I’d love to stay at Real Madrid in the future,” Kepa, the one-time Athletic Bilbao glovesman, said shortly after arriving in the Spanish capital last summer, via Romano.
“Who doesn’t want to stay at this club? I’m very, very happy here.”
HITC understands that Kelleher, who like Lunin seized the chance to make his mark last term after his team-mate picked up an injury, is Celtic’s first choice to replace the retired Joe Hart.
Liverpool want around £15 million, however. That would make Kelleher comfortably the most expensive signing in Celtic’s history.
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