5 Clean Sheets: Why Liverpool Should Buy This £12m Stopper

Liverpool have recently been linked with a move for Genoa stopper Mattia Perin in the January transfer window.

The goalkeeper has been in exceptional form for the Italian side this season, contributing heavily to the fact that his side have risen to sixth in the league, conceding less than a goal per game.

Perin’s form is notable, with the keeper keeping five clean sheets for the Italian side in their 16 games.

Liverpool require a new goalkeeper, having thrown in reserve stopper Brad Jones for the last few games due to the terrible drop in form suffered by Simon Mignolet.

The Belgian keeper looks like he has a mistake in him in every game, and this is not a tolerable situation for a first choice goalkeeper, undoubtedly the player on the pitch that a manager has to have the most trust in whenever a game kicks off.

Jones will not remain first choice, with the Australian simply not possessing enough quality.

Perin therefore seems like he could be an ideal solution to a conundrum that is facing Brendan Rodgers.

At £12 million, his price tag is not particularly prohibitive, allowing the Reds to manoeuvre elsewhere in the transfer market, given what they need.

He also has a clear pedigree and plenty of talent, given that he has been capped by the Italian national side, despite being only 22 years old.

He is also frequently compared to Gianluca Buffon, Italy’s incumbent stopper and one of the world’s best goalkeepers over the last 20 years.

If Liverpool could secure a player who could match up to Buffon, it would be an exceptional signing.

Aside from his clean sheets, Perin outperforms Mignolet whenever he is faced with a shot.

He makes 3.67 saves per goal conceded, doubling Mignolet’s efforts, with the Belgian only stopping 1.59 shots per goal that he concedes.

The only thing that might be a worry for Rodgers is Perin’s distribution.

Liverpool are famed for their passing style, as evidenced in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the weekend when they dominated the play against Wenger’s usually pass-happy Gunners.

The Italian keeper’s distribution is poor, however, with him only completing 54% of his balls to other players.

Despite this, he seems like he could be an excellent addition, and at £12 million it is difficult to see Liverpool doing better in the January transfer window when looking at solutions to the goalkeeping problem.

Spoughts
Editor

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