The World Cup group stage is almost over, and many players have caught the eye with their impressive displays ahead of the transfer window.
Group A has seen Brazil coast to qualification as group winners as Neymar has run riot, whilst Mexico edged out Croatia on Monday night to take second spot – level on points with Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side. Croatia can count themselves somewhat unlucky to be going home, but Cameroon’s campaign was simply atrocious from start to finish with calamitous defending and infighting aplenty.
Amidst a number of fine displays in Group A, one player in particular has stood out having acted as something of a one-man wall against hosts Brazil. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa pulled off a number of superb saves to keep Brazil at bay, earning a valuable point for Miguel Herrera’s side as they went through in second place.
Ochoa’s display immediately set tongues wagging about a possible move to the Premier League, but there has been talk of that for some time. The 28-year-old shot stopper is a free agent having left French club Ajaccio at the end of the season, as he looked to make the step up to a bigger club – which had reportedly alerted Liverpool.
The Reds signed Simon Mignolet last summer but the Belgian had an up and down season at Anfield, leaving Brendan Rodgers to bring in competition for places in goal. Ochoa, available without having to pay a transfer fee, would provide relatively cheap competition for Mignolet, but any deal would surely hinge on the departure of Pepe Reina, who is back on Merseyside after Napoli chose not to pursue a permanent deal for the Spaniard.
Ochoa will have no shortage of suitors after the World Cup given that he’s a free agent, but with Champions League football back at Anfield, Liverpool should feel confident about their chances of landing him – even with Ligue 1 giants Marseille also looking to sign the former Club America star.
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