Alisson to Anfield is on
Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson is expected to arrive in Liverpool today to undergo a medical and complete a £67m move from Roma.
The Reds initially tabled a £62m bid for the Brazilian stopper, £4m less than Roma’s asking price, and when rumours emerged on Tuesday suggesting Chelsea were ready to nip in ahead of their Merseyside rivals, Liverpool “moved quickly” to ensure they got their man.
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Alisson, who had been on holiday in Sardinia after Brazil’s World Cup campaign, has cut short his R&R and on Wednesday evening he boarded a flight from Ciampino Airport in Rome to Manchester. According to Metro, he “will travel from there via a private car to Liverpool”.
Asked if he had anything to say about his move to England, the 25-year-old keeper said: “I want to say thanks to Roma fans. Now it’s time for a new adventure.”
The Liverpool Echo claims that Alisson has agreed personal terms with the club and the deal will see him sign a five-year contract, although he won’t be part of the Reds’ pre-season tour to the US as he will be given time off to recover from his exertions at the World Cup. He is, however, expected to make his bow for the Champions League finalists in a friendly against Napoli on 4 August.
Roma teammate Diego Perotti told Sky Sport Italia that he was sorry to see Alisson leave. “He was a really important goalkeeper for us and his saves rescued a lot of points and games last season, but that is football,” he said. “He’s a great guy, was a strong part of the locker room dynamic and we’re sorry to see him go, but life is like that.”
No more business for Liverpool
The signing of Alisson is likely to be the last bit of business for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp this summer, reports the Daily Mirror, even though Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out for the whole of next season with a knee injury.
“Alisson is expected to be Jurgen Klopp’s final piece in the jigsaw as a deal for Lyon forward Nabil Fekir is now highly unlikely,” says the paper.
The manager is said to be “delighted” with the club’s summer signings, and “Klopp is also encouraged by the fact that the Reds have avoided a summer of uncertainty over any of their major stars”.