Lucca Brughmans to Liverpool: Background, Loan Plan & Giorgi Mamardashvili's Future Questioned

The day before deadline day, Liverpool's business was purportedly all but finished, but a shock link to Nottingham Forest for Giorgi Mamardashvili seemed to reveal a shift behind the scenes regarding Liverpool's goalkeeping department. It was not long after reports surrounding the Georgian's future began to appear that Liverpool had reached a verbal agreement to sign a new young goalkeeper, Lucca Brughmans.

Beth Lindop, ESPN's Liverpool correspondent, confirmed yesterday that no more first-team incomings were expected at Liverpool this transfer window. However, the Reds have moved to secure the signing of Belgium U19 goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans from KRC Genk.

The move comes after Giorgi Mamardashvili was linked with a switch to Nottingham Forest, which Jack Lusby (FourFourTwo and FotMob) suggested this morning is no longer on the cards. Indeed, no move for the Georgian has materialised in these closing hours of the transfer window.

Last night, Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Reds have agreed a 35 million euro transfer package for the transfer of Lucca Brughmans, who will stay at Genk until the summer of 2027.

The transfer has since been confirmed by Liverpool. 

According to Eindhovens Dagblad, PSV Eindhoven are set to receive just under 200,000 pounds as a solidarity payment for their role in developing Brughmans when he was at the club from 2019 to 2022.

35 million euros is a very large transfer fee for a goalkeeper who has only made 12 senior appearances in his career. So, why is he so highly rated?

The 6ft 7" goalie captained the Belgium U17 side at the U17 Euros and World Cup, and he particularly stands out as a natural ball-playing keeper. Sofascore highlight his 72% passing accuracy as a remarkable statistic.

It is difficult, outside of the scouting and analyst world, to profile a player when their career has mostly taken place at the youth level. So, take a look at what the young prospect has to say himself in this official interview with the Royal Belgian FA:

The fact that a sale of Giorgi Mamardashvili was even being spoken about raises questions about what exactly Liverpool's long-term goalkeeping plan is. Spending 35 million euros on a youth prospect goalkeeper could almost be considered a vote of no confidence in the Georgian.

It has been clear for some time that Mamardashvili's profile is not at all similar to the man he is eventually meant to replace, Alisson Becker. Therefore, you can begin to understand why the club might be looking at alternative options - especially with Alisson in the final year of his contract.

Time will tell who exactly is Alisson's true successor, and whether that individual is even yet at the football club.

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