Alisson is Liverpool's booming statement of intent

Liverpool have moved to solve the biggest problem facing Jurgen Klopp by agreeing a world record fee of £66.8million with Roma for Alisson.

The Reds are on the brink of shattering the previous highest transfer involving a goalkeeper – the £34.7m that Manchester City paid Benfica for Ederson in 2017.

Only personal terms and a medical stand between Liverpool and Alisson becoming the club's fourth signing of the summer following deals for Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri.

There's no question this would be the most significant one of the lot by some distance.

Since the Reds' thrilling run to the Champions League final ended in heartbreak, this is the signing that Kopites have craved more than any other.

They wanted to see a real show of ambition.

In Alisson that's exactly what Liverpool will be getting.

The 25-year-old shot-stopper has long since been Klopp's top target.

There were lengthy discussions with his representatives over the course of last season about the prospect of moving to Anfield.

At the time Liverpool didn't fancy their chances of securing his services.

Roma's price tag continued to climb with their belief that the Reds had bought Mohamed Salah on the cheap the previous summer inflating the figures.

The Anfield hierarchy were also informed that Real Madrid were leading the chase for his signature.

However, rather than pursue an alternative, Klopp decided to sit tight.

Possible alternatives such as Jack Butland, Nick Pope, Jasper Cillessen and Thomas Strakosha were dismissed.

Alisson was the one Klopp wanted and the manager was prepared to wait.

This week Liverpool finally bit the bullet. The landscape had changed with Real turning their attention to Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois and the Reds had received sufficient encouragement from Allison's representatives to make their move.

Sporting director Michael Edwards opened talks with Roma which continued late into Tuesday night. Now an agreement has been reached, Liverpool have been granted permission to discuss personal terms.

Klopp already boasts the most expensive defender in world football in Virgil van Dijk and now it looks as if the commanding Dutchman will have the most expensive keeper on the planet operating behind him.

Throw into the mix the most potent frontline in Europe in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, coupled with the £90m worth of new midfield talent in Keita and Fabinho, and no wonder Kopites are buzzing.

Alisson's arrival would fuel that burning sense of optimism.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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