Why Liverpool must let Simon Mignolet leave this summer
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is reportedly keen on leaving the club by the end of this season. After a dismal run of form which saw the Reds concede tons of goals, manager Jurgen Klopp chose to deploy Loris Karius ahead of him and since then, Mignolet has not really featured for the club. Now, Karius is also a controversial figure for the club since most fans continue to be divided on their opinions about him.
However, Liverpool are understood to be scanning the market to sign a new goalkeeper and if they bring in a new recruit, Mignolet’s game time could take a greater hit. Hence, it makes sense for him to want to find a way out. Despite being the club’s No. 1 for a long time, the decision to replace him did come across as harsh. That said, nobody will disagree with the fact that it was a much-needed change.
Karius has done decently enough in goal since then and once Liverpool sign a new keeper, it is likely to come down to either Karius or Mignolet to be utilised as the second-choice shot-stopper. While Karius has played that role before, it might not be in Mignolet’s best interests to stick around. He has been crucial for Liverpool in the last couple of seasons but it does seem like it’s time to let him leave.
With Klopp’s mighty summer plans starting to take shape, the club will undoubtedly require a lot of money to purchase new players. Hence, the sale of Mignolet at this time does seem like a wise move. There will be a risk factor associated with losing their No. 1 keeper but if they manage to sign a fresh recruit to be deployed in goal, it does not make sense for the club to hold him back and prevent him from leaving.
Mignolet is a supremely talented player with lightning-fast reflexes and a good understanding of the game. Things may not have worked out for him at Anfield in what might be his final season but this is definitely not the end of the road for him.
A player as experienced and talented as him can work wonders at a different club and to that end, sanctioning his sale is likely to work in favour of all parties involved. Furthermore, few clubs have already registered an interest in him and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool allow him to join a different team in the Premier League.