Revealed: Door opens for Liverpool to sign goalkeeper after big development
The door has opened for Liverpool to swoop for Jack Butland after Stoke City indicated they are willing to let him go by the end of next week, Football Insider can reveal.
The Merseysiders are assessing potential goalkeeper options after Adrian's horror show in last Sunday's 7-2 humiliation at the hands of Aston Villa.
Jurgen Klopp later revealed that Alisson was "likely" to be sidelined for six weeks which would rule him out of Premier League games against Everton, Sheffield United and West Ham, as well as Champions League fixtures against Ajax, FC Midtjylland and Atalanta.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Liverpool are plotting a swoop for Butland as they look Championship keepers proven in the Premier League.
The domestic window is open until Friday of next week and allows trading between top-flight and EFL clubs.
Stoke are ready to green light the departure of Butland as they look to get a high earner off their wage bill.
Football Insider revealed last weekend they had opened talks with Southampton over a potential swap deal involving Butland and Augus Gunn.
That is a deal that could still be completed in the domestic window, although potential Liverpool interest may be a gamechanger for the nine-times England international.
Aged 27, he has entered the final 12 months of his contract at the bet365 Stadium.
He has had to settle for an unfamiliar place on the bench this season with Michael O’Neill promoting Adam Davies to the number one spot despite Butland's impressive record across 168 appearances for the Potters.
Football Insider columnist Paul Robinson has suggested that a move for Butland could make sense for Liverpool.
The ex-England and Tottenham goalkeeper told us: "If Alisson is going to be out for that length of time Liverpool are going to have to look at it.
"While the domestic window is still open we may see Liverpool do some business. There is a lot of good goalkeepers that are not playing football right now.
"I can see Liverpool signing the likes of Jack Butland on a short-term deal. They need somebody like that. A player that has the experience of handling big games. Somebody of that ilk."