Liverpool Transfer News: Simon Mignolet Deal Latest

Sky Sports. The deal was thought to have been close with the two parties reaching agreement over an £11 million move, but the Belgian's agent, Guy Vandermissen, says he has yet to hear from either club that the transfer has gone through. He said:

"We hope that there can be a deal and he can go to Liverpool. "If you go from Sunderland to Liverpool it is a big step forward. You have to make decisions at certain times."
The move would raise questions over the immediate future of Liverpool's incumbent No.1 shot-stopper Pepe Reina, who has been linked with a move back to boyhood club Barcelona. Yet Red's manager Brendan Rodgers has stressed Mignolet's arrival on Merseyside would not necessarily signal the end of the Spaniard's Anfield career, and that the Belgian would have to compete for the No.1 spot. Vandermissen, though, says Mignolet would relish the competition with Reina for the right to start between the sticks next season. He said:
"I know the qualities of Simon and he can cope with any competition, it is no problem."
Mignolet hopes his potential move to Liverpool could help him win the No.1 jersey for the Belgian national side at next summer's World Cup. He is currently contesting that honour with Thibaut Courtois, who is on loan at Atletico Madrid from Chelsea. A move to Merseyside however would not mean European football, which is necessary for some players to make a name for themselves, and that is where Courtois has the edge. But again, the pragmatic Vandermissen does not see that as a problem either. He continued:
"When you play Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal every week, this is European football, so what is the problem?"

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Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.