Liverpool Rumors: Reds To Scout Turkey's 'No. 1' Goalkeeper – Report

Liverpool has set its sights on an exceptional goalkeeper from outside the English Premier League, a report says.

The Reds are expected to have a busy summer following an underwhelming 2020-21 season. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been reluctant to name specific targets ahead of the next transfer window, but an array of players are already being linked to a move to Anfield.

To date, Liverpool has already conceded a total of 36 goals in the Premier League. This might have alerted the club to look for a well-rounded goalkeeper, and apparently, Klopp’s recruitment team already has Super Lig star Ugurcan Cakir on its radar, Turkish outlet Asist Analiz reported.

The report said Liverpool is planning to scout Cakir “tomorrow” as the club wants to see if the shot-stopper really meets its criteria.

Liverpool has been keeping tabs on Cakir for quite some time now as its apparent interest in the 24-year-old dates back to May 2019, per reports.

Cakir is believed to be viewed by the Reds as a back-up option at the moment, but the player has already been impressive in the Turkish top flight. In fact, some outlets have dubbed the Trabzonspor star the no. 1 goalkeeper in Turkey.

Despite having a stellar career in Super Lig, Cakir will still be monitored by Liverpool scouts as Turkey takes on Norway this weekend.

This wasn’t the first time Liverpool has been linked to a transfer swoop for a Turkish player. It can be recalled that the Reds completed Ozan Kabak’s loan transfer from Schalke 04 in January to fill the void left by Virgil van Dijk due to injury.

Like Cakir, Kabak is also one of the most decorated players in Turkey, and the two have been teammates in international competitions.

Aside from Cakir, Liverpool Under-18s star Mateusz Musialowski is also being monitored by the team’s coaching staff.

Musialowski is one of the 12 exceptional Liverpool academy players who were recently invited to train in front of Klopp, Liverpool Echo reported.

The 17-year-old caught attention after scoring a “Lionel Messi-like” goal during a recent U-18 game.

According to Liverpool assistant manger Pep Lijnders, he and Klopp have always been keen on honing academy players who have “fire in their veins,” and this year is no different.

“We feel this responsibility, I feel it with all I have,” Lijnders explained. “That is something that never will leave my identity, bringing through young players with fire in their veins.”

“It can be a proper advantage, but you need patience and belief, these are the two keywords in youth development,” he added. “Everyone knows we believe in bringing and utilizing the power of the youth. Jurgen [Klopp] and myself, we care so much about our talent, the inside pathway."