After being released by Barcelona recently, it is believed that 32-year-old goalkeepeer Victor Valdes could be being lined up for a switch to Liverpool, with Brendan Rodgers keen on the experienced stopper.
Rodgers has been eager to improve upon his goalkeeping options for a while, particularly after the club sold Pepe Reina to Bayern Munich for a nominal fee in the summer, with only first-choice Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones his real options. Valdes is now being eyed as the perfect candidate, although any move may have to wait a few months.
Whilst at the Nou Camp, Valdes sustained a knee injury in March and is not expected back any earlier than December, and so he would have to prove his fitness before any move comes to fruition. However, the fact he is a costless agent means he could be signed at any time and so there is no pressure to hurry any deal.
Valdes had looked set to move to Monaco, but his injury meant that he failed a medical and the deal fell through, meaning he is now a real possibility for Liverpool. Rodgers had been said to be considering the likes of young English stopper Alex McCarthy, who moved to QPR for £6 million last month, and Sergio Romero - but the transfer window ended with Rodgers securing neither.
A source told Spanish sport newspaper AS: "Victor loves Liverpool and what it represents and Rodgers loves Victor." The comment comes soon after the player's agent, Ginés Carvajal, claimed Valdes would be playing "for a big club before Christmas" and Liverpool look likely to be that club.
The move could only be beneficial for the Reds, with Valdes heralded as a legend at his boyhood club, after playing more than 500 matches for the Catalan giants, winning three Champions League finals and six La Liga titles. Not to mention the fact that he has won a World Cup and European Championship with Spain, and two FIFA World Club Cups with the La Liga side. His arrival would clearly add some winning experience to a youthful squad, and he would provide extra competition for Mignolet in between the sticks. It now remains to be seen as to whether Liverpool look to seal a deal within the coming weeks, or wait until Valdes can prove his fitness before trying to acquire the goalkeeper's services.