Liverpool are very likely to be looking for a new long-term starting goalkeeper next summer once Alisson Becker exits at the end of his contract.
There had been a feeling in the months leading up to the end of the season that Alisson could leave this year, but after Liverpool triggered a one-year extension to his deal and then rebuffed interest from Juventus, the Brazilian appears to be staying.
With injuries continuing to be an issue for him, however, Alisson will surely go in 2027, and as question marks remain over Giorgi Mamardashvili’s suitability, the Reds could be in the market for a new goalkeeper.
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As Alisson has proven over the years, a top goalie can be worth his weight in gold, and if there is even a smidgen of doubt over Mamardashvili, Liverpool must change their approach.
After his brilliance with Spain at the World Cup this summer saw him concede only one goal, Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon certainly has the quality to be the Reds’ Alisson successor. However, players are notoriously difficult to pry from Athletic, which may make the 29-year-old a no-go in the eyes of some supporters.
Thankfully, though, Liverpool now have a certain legend of San Mames to call upon. It is reasonable to think that Andoni Iraola could be the difference-maker in convincing Simon to try his luck at an elite European club.
Simon should be in the picture for Liverpool
Although players are not impossible to get out of Athletic, the club have a structure which means that their biggest stars are very well paid, making it difficult to leave. Because of their unique Basque only policy, the club rarely pay big transfer fees, leaving money left over to plough into wages.
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Nevertheless, Nico Williams should be an option for Liverpool after his performance in the World Cup final, and as they scour the world for goalkeepers who could replace Anfield’s best custodian of the 21st century, Simon should feature on the Reds’ list as well.
Unlike Williams, Simon does not have a release clause in his contract, which currently runs until 2029, but he is unlikely to be priced anything like as highly as, say, Kepa Arrizabalaga, who left Athletic in a whopping £72m move to Chelsea just weeks after Liverpool signed Alisson.
After spending his whole career to date with Los Leones, and having catapulted himself into the category of elite goalkeepers, perhaps Simon will see the value in looking elsewhere next summer.
Iraola could be the difference in Liverpool signing Simon
When it comes to a long-serving player leaving any club, existing relationships can certainly help inform his decision on where to join.
For a player leaving Athletic, the importance of having a Basque connection somewhere else cannot be overstated. In Iraola, Simon could hardly have a better figure to look to in that respect.
The new Liverpool head coach spent 12 years in the first-team at San Mames having come through the club’s youth academy. Iraola sits in sixth place for the most appearances in the club’s history. He is a genuine legend of Athletic.
While these things can never decide the direction of a transfer by themselves, they can tip the balance one way or another, and if Simon is thinking about playing elsewhere after conquering the world, then Iraola’s presence at Liverpool, coupled with the likely exit of Alisson, should put the Reds right at the top of his list.
Turning 30 next summer, Simon would be a more experienced option than Mamardashvili, who is four years younger.
But 30 is still no age for a goalkeeper, and if there is a chance that he could be between the sticks for even four or five years, Liverpool should be deploying every weapon in their arsenal to make it happen.
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