Soccer

Shay Given a target for Liverpool

Former Ireland goalkeeper sought as back-up to new arrival Simon Mignolet

Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given is a target of Liverpool. Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given is a target of Liverpool. Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images
Andy Hunter
Thu Aug 29 2013 - 23:02

Liverpool have made a surprise move for the former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given as Brendan Rodgers seeks experienced cover for Simon Mignolet.

The Liverpool manager, who has also revived efforts to sign the defender Tiago Ilori from Sporting Lisbon, wants the 37-year-old Aston Villa keeper to improve back-up for his €10m summer signing from Sunderland. Brad Jones is currently deputy to 24-year-old Mignolet but has had limited first-team exposure and Rodgers wants to redress the lack of experience in his goalkeeping ranks having allowed Pepe Reina to join Napoli on a season-long loan.

Given has been told he can leave Villa having lost his place to Brad Guzan at the start of last season. He remains one of the highest earners at Villa Park and still has three years remaining on the contract he penned when joining from Manchester City in 2011.

The Donegalman has been linked with several loan moves this summer, including to Doncaster Rovers in the Championship, but could secure a transfer to Liverpool should he accept the role of Mignolet’s understudy.

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Rodgers is also keen to strengthen in central defence and on the left wing before Monday’s transfer deadline and Liverpool have reopened talks with Sporting for Ilori. The 20-year-old was among the Liverpool manager’s preferred list of defensive targets at the start of the summer only for Sporting’s rising valuation to stall a deal. A fee of around €8m could finally land the London-born Portugal Under-20 international.

Liverpool required another central defender even before Kolo Touré damaged his groin during the Capital One Cup win over Notts County.

The club have yet to announce the full extent of the injuries suffered by Touré, Joe Allen and the new signing Aly Cissokho on Tuesday but all three are expected to miss Manchester United’s visit to Anfield on Sunday.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender Mamadou Sakho remains a Liverpool target but the French club are reluctant to sell, and Rodgers’s forward options include a loan deal for Victor Moses at Chelsea.

Guardian Service