Over the weekend, a story emerged in France that Steve Mandanda was a summer target for Liverpool, as Jürgen Klopp continues to try and sort out his goalkeeper situation at Anfield.
Bringing in Loris Karius from Mainz 05 last year doesn’t appear to have done the trick, with the German falling out of favour after a few bad games, and it appears the German manager is now looking elsewhere.
Téléfoot in France reported Liverpool were after the Crystal Palace star, and could end up providing an interesting alternative for the goalkeeper were he to receive an offer, yet a move to the north of England for the 32-year-old doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Firstly, at this stage in his career, Mandanda will be looking for guaranteed first-team football.
Leaving Marseille last summer, the goalkeeper wanted to give Premier League football a try, and, while an unfortunate knee injury saw him miss most of the season, things still haven’t gone to plan, as, now fully fit, he still doesn’t make the bench at Selhurst Park.
Moving to Liverpool certainly has its advantages (financial etc…), yet with TF1 stating a transfer would be to offer Mignolet more competition, there is no guarantee Mandanda would start at Anfield.
Going back to Marseille, however, would give the goalkeeper everything he wants: an almost guaranteed first-team spot and perhaps even a return to European football.
Furthermore, the player has never hidden his love for the south of France, and only left last season as he felt the club were declining and this would be his last chance to make the move to England.
However, with a new owner willing to financially back the side, as well as Rudi Garcia as their manager, the Ligue 1 side are a far more appealing destination, as shown by the willingness of both Dimitri Payet and Patrice Evra to sign in January.
It might be seen by many as the safe option, yet avoiding a transfer to Liverpool makes the most sense for Mandanda at this stage of his career, especially since a run of games as a first-team player would automatically see him regain his France status as number two to Lloris.
