OPINION
Liverpool’s big money purchase of Alisson this summer solved a major problem position for the club, but his arrival has given manager Jurgen Klopp another headache.
Namely: Simon Mignolet, who is now unhappily sat behind the Brazilian in the Anfield pecking order. The Belgian is a high quality ‘keeper and he won’t be content to miss out on first team football forever.
With that said, Burnley shot-stopper Tom Heaton could be the perfect man to fill the void whenever the Belgian does leave Merseyside.
The 6ft 2in England international [Source: Transfermarkt] has seen his world turned upside down at Turf Moor in the last year or so, as a serious shoulder injury suffered in October put him out of action until April.
In the meantime his place in the team was usurped by phenomenon Nick Pope, who himself went on to pick up a long-term injury that has cost him his place in the Claret’s team.
Instead of triumphantly returning to the Burnley line up after Pope’s set back, though, Heaton has found himself sat on the bench in favour of his fellow England international Joe Hart, who joined the club from Manchester City this summer.
Hart has experienced a career renaissance under Sean Dyche this season, a state of affairs which led Dyche to tell the Mirror that he wouldn’t stand in Heaton’s way if he wanted to leave the club.
That news should be music to Liverpool’s ears, as it presents them with the perfect solution to Mignolet’s discontent. The Reds can now proceed to sell Mignolet in January and bring Heaton in as his replacement behind Alisson.
Now, why would Heaton swap one bench-warming role for another I hear you ask? The answer is simple: money and the chance to win trophies.
We’ve seen many goalkeepers surrender their playing time for a bigger wage and a prestigious club; it’s surely worth trying to convince Heaton to do the same.
Mignolet won’t be happy warming the bench forever, but a move for Heaton would fill the Belgian’s spot in the squad with a player who is as good, if not better, than him.
