Rumour Mongering: Napoli Consider Simon Mignolet Panic Move

Napoli are worried about going into the season with their current goalkeeping options after Saturday’s 5-0 drubbing.

Liverpool are trying to offload Simon Mignolet but his age, high wages, and a track record of having failed to hold on to the starting job twice when given the opportunity by Jürgen Klopp have so far meant nobody being willing to meet the club’s £12M asking price.

Even a loan could prove to be difficult, with Liverpool seeking a loan fee commensurate to the one-year value of a permanent transfer and insisting that any interested club would also need to pay the 30-year-old Belgian goalkeeper’s wages in full for the 2018-19 season.

Napoli, though, might just be desperate enough to pay it—or at least to seriously consider paying it—according to Het Nieuwsblad, who say that starting goalkeeper Alex Meret’s fractured arm could force the Serie A side to pay what it takes to bring in Mignolet.

Assuming a deal was done quickly and Mignolet used the first month, before Meret’s expected mid-September return, to make his case for the Serie A side it could be a good move for the Belgian. It wouldn’t be a guaranteed starting job long-term, though.

Another veteran goalkeeper, Mexico and Standard Liege stopper Guillermo Ochoa, is said to be the other player being given serious consideration by Napoli, who were forced to start backup Orestis Karnezis against Liverpool in their 5-0 pre-season loss on Saturday.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com