Liverpool confirm £30m transfer that paves the way for Alisson exit
Alisson has been linked with an exit
PA
Liverpool have agreed to sign Valencia goalkeeper for Giorgi Mamardashvili in a deal that will see him stay with the Spanish club until next summer.
Alisson remains the No. 1 at Anfield but the Brazilian has been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
The deal for the Georgia international will give Alisson the chance to leave Liverpool next summer.
A big money move came in for the Brazilian, who revealed that he turned it down to stay on Merseyside this summer.
Giorgi Mamardashvili has signed for Liverpool but will stay with Valencia
PA
He told the Telegraph: "I have a contract and I want to honour my contract and finish my contract here or make a new one.
"I am really happy here. My family is happy. I never got to the point where I was talking about wages and things like this [with the Saudis].
"It was just interest. But when you hear about the numbers the other players are getting you are a little bit attracted. That is normal.
"At the end of the day, you play football for love. It is the thing you like to do, but it is our profession and we want to use the years that we have to make the most of it. I think I am open to that personally, but not now.
"Now is not the time. I am really focused on the things we have here at Liverpool and while I still have my contract here, I will be focused here.
"If it is in the interest of the club to negotiate [for] me, then it will be a different conversation. At this time, at this window that we have, I am focused on my job here and my life in Liverpool."
Whether Alisson will resist a similar approach next year remains to be seen with the Saudi Pro League preparing to make some huge moves in 2025, with team-mate Mohamed Salah among the superstars being targeted.
But regardless of what happens, Liverpool will now consider themselves prepared for whether Alisson stays or not with the signing of Mamardashvili.
The 23-year-old starred over the summer with Georgia, where he pulled off several top-rated saves.
His efforts saw the European minnows reach the Round of 16, an incredible achievement.
Alisson revealed he turned down a Saudi move this summer
PA
Mamardashvili also managed 21 saves during the three group-stage games - a European Championship record.
And Liverpool will be keeping close tabs on the former Dinamo Tbilisi star at Valencia, where he has been for the last three years.
Several clubs were interested in the goalkeeper, including Newcastle and Chelsea.
Giorgi Mamardashvili starred for Georgia at Euro 2024 and has now signed for Liverpool
PA
Mamardashvili has amde 102 appearances for Valencia, keeping 31 clean sheets in the process.
Alisson, meanwhile, has spent the last six years at Anfield where he has become a fan favourite.
He joined from Roma for a fee of £67m, which made him the most expensive goalkeeper in the world at the time.
Since his arrival, the 31-year-old has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, as well as the Club World Cup.
You may like
