Liverpool FC Forum

We are linked with too many AM's and Support Strikers... how are we going to fit Coutinho, Henrikh and Aspas all in the team?

What we need more urgently is an athletic holding midfielder and a CB...

Liverpool set to agree £10m fee for Sunderland’s Mignolet

LIVERPOOL are winning the race to sign Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet and the Black Cats’ Player of the Season could be Anfield-bound within days.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has made the Belgian stopper one of his top targets of the summer, but faced potential competition from Arsenal who are also involved in a summer of rebuilding, with Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger given a massive war-chest to transform the London side into title contenders.

Liverpool are looking to do their transfer business early this summer and made an opening bid of £6.5m hoping to do an early deal, while Arsenal made their interest known but have yet to take that further.

Sunderland rejected Liverpool’s offer out of hand for a player who was pivotal in keeping the club in the Premier League last season.

But the Reds have not been dissuaded and have tabled several improved offers, rising to £8m early this week.

Yesterday, the Merseysiders were prepared to go to £9m, but Sunderland are holding out for a fee in excess of £10m for a player Steve Bruce paid £2m for, three years ago this week.

Now it looks like Liverpool have accepted Sunderland’s valuation.

And with the Reds prepared to pay a fee which the Black Cats’ believe approaches the keeper’s market value, Mignolet appears on his way to Anfield.

Arsenal could always step in with an 11th hour bid, but their are no immediate signs on an intervention from the Emirates and, that being the case, the deal to take Mignolet to Liverpool is on.

The club’s hottest property has been the subject of intense speculation since the end of the season and talks on an extension to his contract at the Stadium of Light, which still has two years to run, had stalled as the player and his agents considered their options.

Mignolet’s chief agent, Guy Vandersmissen, said earlier this month that the keeper would not ask for a move but that the ball was firmly in Sunderland’s court.

“There is a contract so we have to respect that, but I don’t think at this moment we would be prepared to sign a new contract,” commented Vandersmissen.

“There is another two years on his contract, if they want us to stick to that, we will stick to that and perhaps leave after two years if there is an interest in Simon.”

Sunderland though would not want the 25-year-old, whose reputation grew by the month in the Premier League last season, to leave on a Bosman in a couple of years time.

And it will be hard for the Black Cats to reject a particularly big offer which would give Paolo Di Canio room for manoeuvre under the financial fair play restrictions and allow him to strengthen other areas of the team.

Mignolet’s exit could see top-quality understudy, Republic of Ireland keeper Keiren Westwood, promoted to number one with England Under 19 goalkeeper moving up to number two.

That remains the most likely option, although Di Canio could also look to bring in a replacement for Mignolet which will still leave him the bulk of the transfer fee, or even look to bring in another keeper as Westwood’s number two.

What is clear though is that Mignolet will not be going anywhere unless Sunderland receive an acceptable offer and Liverpool appear to have accepted that valuation as they urgently seek a genuine replacement for Kop cult hero Pepe Reina, who is now expected to leave this summer.

Mignolet has been happy at the Stadium of Light since joining the club from St Truiden three years this week.

But he is desperate to oust Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtis as Belgian number one before the 2014 World Cup finals and knows that a good move would improve his chances.

The Sunderland keeper had an excellent season just gone and was absolutely pivotal in keeping the Black Cats in the top flight by the skin of their teeth, thanks to many points saving performances over the course of the campaign.

But he knows that a move to a higher profile stage will enhance the international prospects which mean so much to him.





http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/sunderland-afc/liverpool-set-to-agree-10m-fee-for-sunderland-s-mignolet-1-5770704

seen as valdes is staying at the camp nou we should be under no pressure to replace pepe this season and would be better off using that money elsewhere.
it seems to me that pepe is being forced out the door as he wont play second fiddle to mingy if he signs. maybe wenger will concede defeat in mingy and sign reina instead which will be a great coup for them.

Whether Reina stays or goes I'm not overly concerned.

I think this summer it's probably better for us if he stays just because we have so much upheaval already with senior players like Carra and probably Suarez leaving.

In terms of his performance level though, I think he's gone stale here and has looked for a couple of seasons like he needs a new challenge to get back to his best.

Begovic and Mignolet are good keepers and there are plenty more out there who would be adequate replacements for Reina should he go.

Huge fan of Mignolet. He's a great keeper and will definitely improve the squad whether its as a no. 1 or as competition for Reina, who I thought let the team down on a few occasions last year.

I will do a nut if we sign Mkhitkaryan. I've never seen him play, but I just get the feeling that he is matchwinner. Besides being a great football player, he's also a winning person (very intelligent, well travelled, played in many leagues, fluent in many languages). I see him as a future leader IF we can sign him.

Loving our the way we've been conducting ourselves this transfer window. We've been looking to exploit clubs in financial straights or players with contract disputes which is always a good tactic. We're looking at very talented, young players on low wages so we can shift them on in a few years if they don't work out.

Apparently we're going to ask Shakthar to lower their price for Mkhtaryan to 15m (they're currently asking for 20m). I think 15m is the most reasonable price for a player from the Ukrainian league even though he's probably the league's best player. But even at 20m it would be a good signing considering we're going to offer him 20-30k per week, which would total at around 25m in 4 years (also considering the transfer fee). For illustration, the total we payed for Joe Cole was around 20m. It would be a great bargain if we can get a lad like Mkhtaryan to sign a 4-year contract that would cost us around 20m (both in wages and transfer fee).

Also, we're being linked with Paolo De Ceglie.

I would prefer Begovic but Mignolet is a quality keeper also

i`d prefer begovic too, we are terrible in the air at the back and i cant see papadopolous sorting that situation out on his own. mingolet looks similar in stature to reina so i couldnt see him helping much where as begovic is a giant who likes to come for crosses.

http://www.estadiodeportivo.com/sevilla/2013/06/15/acuerdo-cerrado-luis-alberto-marcha-liverpool/6012.html

I don't want to tempt fate by starting an official thread for the lad ,but It seems we may have another Luis on the books.

Reg » Sat Jun 15, 2013 2:22 am wrote:I cant believe these are long term options, max 3 years then they'll want out. The squad is becoming mercenary basised again.

Hey Reg, how you doing? Why do you say that?

Hey Maxy, long time. Am well thanks, still working like a dog. What about yourself?

I don't feel these are Liverpool players, they're journeymen who'll raise their profile then move on. Coutinho and Sturridge will go the same way. I accept football has changed and loyalty is history however I don't feel the lads we're attracting these days are long termers, simply using us - and we're using them - as a stepping stone.

That's pretty much the make up on most professional footballers though Reg - players are always looking to move forward in their career and to reach the pinnacle both financially and in terms of success on the pitch.

It's not a new thing and its certainly not unique for us Reg.

Long term players are the rareity within squads now.

The only way to keep players is to pay them the most and to win the trophies - even then it might not be enough to keep players.

RED BEERGOGGLES » Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:32 pm wrote:http://www.estadiodeportivo.com/sevilla/2013/06/15/acuerdo-cerrado-luis-alberto-marcha-liverpool/6012.html

I don't want to tempt fate by starting an official thread for the lad ,but It seems we may have another Luis on the books.

he looks a good player that lad, very classy. he`s probably not ready for the first team just yet though.

dont tell me off benny, but i am quite excited but some of the business we are doing atm, toure and aspas in already (pending formalities), looks like alberto, mignolet, lloris and Mkhitaryan as well

and if suarez does go, hopefully that cash will be splashed on 2 or 3 big guns too

Sky Sports sources: Liverpool closing in on a deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Would be a brilliant signing.