Reports: Liverpool close in on third signing of the week, deal should be finalised in 24 hours
By Alex Taylor
Liverpool are preparing to announce the signing of 39-year-old goalkeeper Alex Manninger on a one-year contract, according to a report.
The Liverpool Echo claim that manager Jurgen Klopp is close to tying up a deal for the veteran former Arsenal man.
It is said that the Austrian flew with the Liverpool squad on Thursday for their US tour and his signing should be confirmed in the next 24 hours.
Manninger was released by German club Augsburg at the end of last season and has since been training with the Liverpool squad.
The goalkeeper is set to become Liverpool's third signing of the week. The Merseysiders announced the arrival of defender Ragnar Klavan on Wednesday and Georginio Wijnaldum will reportedly undergo an Anfield medical on Friday after a deal worth up to £25million was agreed with Newcastle.
Liverpool have already allowed Danny Ward, Adam Bogdan and Ryan Fulton leave on loan this summer, and were keen to add an experienced back-up to Klopp’s squad.
The Austrian veteran has played across Europe with stints at Juventus, Espanyol and Udinese after making his name at Arsenal more than a decade ago.
The keeper, who was part of the Gunners double winning side of 1998 under Arsene Wenger, has 11 Champions League appearances to his name, five with Juventus and six before that at Arsenal.
In other Liverpool transfer news, Lucas Leiva could be offered the captaincy by Newcastle to persuade him to drop down to the Championship.