Lucca Brughmans (foto: //)
Liverpool have agreed a €35m deal with Genk for two-metre-tall Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, who could become the most expensive teenage goalkeeper in football history.
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Liverpool have made a major investment in their future by reaching an agreement with Genk for highly rated 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans.
The English champions are expected to pay around €35m for the Belgian teenager, who is due to undergo his medical before signing his contract. If the deal is completed at that figure, Brughmans will become the most expensive teenage goalkeeper in football history.
Liverpool have followed Brughmans for some time and see him as a potential long-term successor to Alisson. Standing around two metres tall despite only recently turning 18, his physique and potential have already earned him comparisons in Belgium with Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois.
Liverpool beat Bayern to Belgian wonderkid
The previous record for a teenage goalkeeper belonged to Mike Penders, another Genk product, after Chelsea paid around €20m for him. Liverpool have now gone considerably further to secure Brughmans before his value potentially increases.
Bayern Munich were also monitoring the youngster, but Liverpool decided to move first and complete one of the most intriguing deals of the final days of the transfer window.
The current plan is for Brughmans to remain at Genk on loan for another season, allowing him to continue playing regularly before moving permanently into Liverpool's first-team structure.
However, that could change depending on the future of Giorgi Mamardashvili. Nottingham Forest are interested in the Georgian goalkeeper and, should he leave Anfield, Liverpool could decide to keep Brughmans in England immediately. If Mamardashvili stays, a return to Genk on loan is considered the most likely solution.
Brughmans remains inexperienced despite his enormous potential. He made 21 appearances for Genk last season, conceding 36 goals, and has established himself as a regular this campaign. Liverpool are nevertheless prepared to make a huge investment now in the belief that they may have found their goalkeeper for the future.