Liverpool are closing in on completing a deal for 1. FSV Mainz 05 goalkeeper Loris Karius in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old played a key role along with his captain Julian Baumgartlinger as the Bundesliga club finished sixth in the league table with 50 points from 34 games. That helped them seal a place in the Europa League for the first time in the history of the club.
According to German publication Kicker, both Karius and Baumgartlinger are likely to leave the club in the upcoming transfer window. The Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of the stopper and wants to add him to his squad.
It is believed the deal has been agreed, with only player's medical pending, reports the Daily Star. Barcelona star Marc-Andre her Stegen and Cologne’s Timo Horn were on the German manager's radar. However, the Anfield club's manager has decided to go ahead and bring Mainz keeper to the Premier League.
Karius was at Manchester City from 2009 and 2011, before leaving the Etihad at the age of 17 and he made a switch to Mainz. Since then he came up through their ranks before sealing a place in the first team.
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In January 2015, the keeper extended his contract, which will keep him at Coface Arena until 2018. He has a €10m release clause in his contract and it is believed that the Merseyside club will trigger his asking price in order to bring him to Anfield.
He has impressed for Christian Heidel and has cemented his place between posts. His form for his current employers has gathered interest from the former Borussia Dortmund. Klopp was at Mainz from 1990 to 2001 as a player and then managed them for seven years until 2008, before taking the role at the Signal Iduna Park.
The Reds currently have the services of Simon Mignolet as their first choice keeper. The Belgium international's form in certain fixtures has seen the Reds suffer defeats and that has been a concern for Liverpool.
Klopp is looking to bring competition in that position and the arrival of Karius at Anfield could potentially force Mignolet to drop to the bench.
