Liverpool Opinion: Reds should sign Ugurcan Cakir as a back-up for Alisson
According to the Daily Star, Liverpool have made contact with Turkish giants Trabzonspor to negotiate a potential transfer involving goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir in the summer transfer window.
According to the player’s agent Erdi Kirkpinar, his client is being tracked by a number of clubs across Europe, with Premier League giants Liverpool and Bundesliga outfit Schalke amongst his admirers. (h/t Daily Star)
The 23-year-old Turk has shot to prominence with Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig this season, managing a total of 7 clean sheets from 23 appearances in all competitions. Cakir has caught the eye with his consistently impressive performances between the sticks following the sudden retirement of long-standing No.1 Onur Kivrak in January.
A youth product of Trabzonspor, Ugurcan Cakir made his senior debut for his boyhood club in a Europa League qualifying game in the 2015-16 season before being shipped out on loan to fourth-tier outfit 1461 Trabzon.
He drew a complete blank in the 2016-17 season but came back in the reckoning for a role in the first-team in the 2017-18 season, making 6 appearances in the Super Lig. The 23-year-old has finally come of age for Trabzonspor this term and his red-hot form between the sticks has attracted plenty of attention from clubs across Europe.
Cakir made registered a total of 64 saves in the Super Lig this season, 35 of which have been from inside the penalty box, including a couple from inside the six-yard box.
The 23-year-old former Turkish U-21 international averages 3.6 saves per game while boasting of a shot-saved percentage of 76, figures which are definitely impressive for any goalkeeper in the world.
Standing at 6ft. 3 inches, Cakir has proven himself to be a wonderful shot-stopper from both close and long ranges.
However, his game is not only about shot-stopping, but the 23-year-old has also earned good reviews for his handling, positioning and composure between the sticks. He has got a safe pair of hands and often comes off his line to either catch the ball or punch it away to safety.
Liverpool fell agonisingly short of Man City in pursuit of their first domestic league title in 28 years, as the Citizens successfully defended their crown with a 4-1 victory over Brighton on the final day.
City had their fair share of luck and magical moments throughout the campaign while Liverpool’s failure to win the title had little to do with their quality of the squad. The Reds can still end the season with silverware though, with Jurgen Klopp’s side set to face Spurs in the Champions League final.
Liverpool apparently have plenty of quality in their first-team but Klopp should look to bring in a few players this summer to bolster his squad depth and ensure that he has good enough players on the bench to deliver the goods in times of need.
While a natural No.10 and a back-up for Robertson at left-back should be in the manager’s agenda for the summer, the Reds also need to bring in a back-up for Alisson in goal, with the futures of Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius at Anfield up in the air.
Mignolet is under contract until 2021 but a goalkeeper of his calibre is unlikely to play the role of a glorified bench-warmer for much longer. Karius, on the other hand, has probably ended his career at Liverpool following his high-profile errors against Real Madrid in the Champions League final last year.
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Bringing in young and promising goalkeeper like Uguarcan Cakir, possibly with lesser wages, should help Liverpool cut their costs and save some valuable funds.
The Turk has shown strong signs of excellence in his first full season and the Reds should not hesitate to snap him up for a thrifty amount given that they already have Alisson as the undisputed No.1 at Anfield.
