Arsenal look to have moved into pole position for Keylor Navas, but Liverpool cannot afford to miss out on the goalkeeper.
How different Liverpool’s season could have been if only they’d managed to get Virgil van Dijk a few months earlier…and if they’d had a decent goalkeeper.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are seen by many as dark horses for this season’s Champions League, and will have nothing to fear despite coming up against Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City this week.
Still, Liverpool’s strong second half of the season has been marred by their unconvincing start, when they leaked goals through repeated calamities by Dejan Lovren and Simon Mignolet.
While van Dijk has now come in to solve their centre-back problem, the addition of a ‘keeper like Keylor Navas looks a must for the Reds if they are to close the gap on City next term.
Spanish source Don Balon recently claimed Liverpool were keen to sign the Real Madrid shot-stopper, stating Klopp is a big admirer.
While Real may favour more glamorous ‘Galactico’ names, the solid and consistent Costa Rican has unquestionably been one of the unsung heroes of their recent La Liga and Champions League success.
It is a worry then that the same publication now state that Arsenal have moved ahead in the running, with Navas seemingly most tempted by the offer of a move to the Emirates Stadium.
However, unlike the Gunners, Liverpool will almost certainly have Champions League football and a genuine shot at silverware to offer next season – two factors to surely give them the edge in the deal if they can get their act together.
Put simply, if they don’t, it could be the difference between putting together a balanced side with quality both at the back and up front, or another flawed campaign in which the great work of Mohamed Salah and co. is undone by unforgivable errors and dropped points at the other end.
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