The agent of Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has dismissed claims that the player would be leaving the club for Nice.
Belgian publication Het Belang van Limburg reported earlier this month that Patrick Vieira’s side were interested in making a move for the former Sunderland man.
However, Nico Vaesen has claimed that that is not the case: “It’s all paper talk,” he told ESPN. “I don’t [know] where the stories from Nice and everywhere came out.
“It’s not because I go to a game — Monaco vs. Brugge — and I’m spotted in Nice and that I’m speaking on behalf of Simon that he goes to Nice. I’ve heard and read all sorts of comments regarding speculation about Simon. Liverpool, they like Simon. And Simon likes Liverpool. The only thing is Simon is a professional football player and a professional football player wants to play.”
OPINION
This is fairly strange because it seems like a move away to Nice would be an ideal solution for Mignolet. However, if there’s been no contact then there’s been no contact so what can you do? It’s clear that the 30-year-old won’t be content to sit around not playing forever, his agent says as much, so this is an issue that Jurgen Klopp and co. will have to deal with at some point. It’s all about the Reds’ ability to source a replacement for the Belgian. If they can then Mignolet will surely be allowed to leave, but up until that point it’s likely that he will be remaining at Anfield. He wants to play, of course, so it would be nice of Liverpool to be looking for a replacement for him so that he can go. Mignolet has never been a star man but he’s served the club loyally and he deserves to be given the chance to play regular football. Hopefully that happens in the not so distant future.
