Liverpool could be about to make the strangest signing of the summer, with former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger reportedly on the verge of joining the club.
James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo understands that the 39-year-old is training with the Reds and could soon be signed as third-choice goalkeeper. He tweeted this afternoon:
Former Arsenal keeper Alex Manninger training with #LFC. Could be signed as 3rd choice back up to Mignolet/Karius
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) July 11, 2016
Summer recruit Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet are expected to fight for the number-one jersey at Anfield next season while Adam Bogdan is seemingly free to go.
Danny Ward, who played for Wales at Euro 2016, is expected to sign a new contract on Merseyside and join Huddersfield Town on loan for this season, according to the Echo.
Manninger would only be signed as back-up to Karius and Mignolet, but it still seems a bizarre acquisition for Jurgen Klopp to make considering the player’s age.
The Austrian was on the books at Augsburg last season, making only two appearances, and is now out of contract following four years and 38 games for the Bundesliga side.
The veteran has also been with Juventus, Udinese, Red Bull Salzburg, Siena, Bologna, Torino, Espanyol and Fiorentina since leaving Arsenal aged 25 in the summer of 2002.
He played 47 times in five years with the Gunners, including 39 times in the Premier League, and, now fifteen years later, seems poised for an unlikely second spell in England!
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