Liverpool enter transfer tussle for Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge as Jurgen Klopp chases Alisson back-up
LIVERPOOL are competing with newly promoted Aston Villa for the services of Cardiff City ace Neil Etheridge.
The goalkeeper was the biggest positive of the Bluebirds' immediate retreat back to the Championship, winning the club's Player of the Year award.
Along with his quick reactions from open play, the Philippines international earned a reputation for penalty saves - stopping three spot-kicks in 2018/19.
Such talents have led to Liverpool making an enquiry over Etheridge's availability for a summer switch.
report on no concrete offer being made at this stage, although Villa opened bidding at £8million earlier in the week.
The newly promoted side can offer a better shot at first-team football than Liverpool as well as a link-up with Neil Cutler, the goalkeeping coach who helped develop the 29-year-old during a successful stint at Walsall.
Moving to Anfield would likely place him as No 2 behind Alisson Becker, with Simon Mignolet and Lloris Karius reportedly on the way out of Jurgen Klopp's club.
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Sun Sport understand Bournemouth to be one team seeking the Belgian whereas Karius is halfway through a two-year loan spell with Besiktas.
Mignolet has moved to delay making a decision on his future until after the international period.
Etheridge, however, has indicated his openness to becoming stand-in at a big club, seeing it as being "one step away" from a chance to claim the No 1 jersey.