After the disappointment of missing out on Martin Zubimendi – Arne Slot confirmed on Friday that that the Real Sociedad midfielder ‘decided not to come’ after extensive negotiations – Liverpool are at least on the verge of signing another of La Liga’s best young talents.
Giorgi Mamardashvili, at just 23, has earned his place among the finest up-and-coming goalkeepers in world football.
The Tbilisi-born glovesman has been a regular in the Valencia net for two seasons now.
And his ‘outstanding’ performances at the European Championships – pulling off one stand-out save in particular during that 2-0 win over Portugal – helped Georgia reach the knock-out stages while introducing Mamardashvili’s talents to a far wider audience.
Liverpool near Giorgi Mamardashvili deal with Valencia
HITC reported earlier this week that Liverpool were pursuing Mamardashvili. The Merseyside giants see him as the long-term replacement for Alisson Becker.
The long-serving Brazilian is now 31 and has attracted Saudi Arabian interest recently.
And sources have now confirmed that Mamardashvili has an agreement in principle ahead of a move that will see him officially join Liverpool in the summer of 2025.
As Liverpool cannot sign a player and then loan him to a Premier League rival in the same summer, Mamardashvili will remain contracted to Valencia until next year. The current plan, however, is for the former Chelsea and Newcastle United target to join Bournemouth on loan for 2024/25.
A plan Liverpool will be happy with, given that they feel Mamardashvili will benefit from gaining experience of English football elsewhere before stepping into Alisson’s shoes.
Valencia will bank £34 million. Liverpool are due to pay £30 million, with that final £4 million a loan fee stumped up via Bournemouth.
Valencia take on Barcelona in La Liga opener
The uncertainty surrounding Mamardashvili has not done Los Che boss Ruben Baraja any favours, however, with Valencia due to kick off their La Liga campaign against Barcelona on Saturday night at the Mestalla.
Baraja claimed during his pre-match press conference, however, that Mamardashvili is due to be part of the squad.
“We will count on him,” Baraja says, via Football Espana.
“It’s very simple. He is our player. And, as long as there is no other different situation, I am not going to evaluate anything else. I’m not going to enter into hypotheses. Giorgi is a Valencia player and is ready to participate.
“When the market is open, clubs buy players. I am focused on tomorrow’s game. He is here, he is ready to participate.
“We cannot talk about situations that have not yet occurred.”
HITC have been told that Mamardashvili might not necessarily join Liverpool’s first-team ranks as early as 2025. With Alisson’s contract running for another three years, The Reds may postpone any succession plan until the day that the former Roma glovesman begins to decline.
“Maybe, in a year or two’s, time (Mamardashvili can be the number one),” Spanish football expert Terry Gibson tells El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast.
“I can see the forward thinking. Alisson might move on in a year or two and then they’ve got a readymade replacement.
“He is a really good goalkeeper. It was actually amazing watching him in the European Championships because we know how good he was, and it was interesting to see everyone (else) say ‘he’s really good’!
“You can understand Liverpool being interested. I’m surprised he’s still there to be honest because, after the performance in the European Championships, it opened him up (to major clubs).”
