Liverpool misfit Simon Mignolet has understandably found himself linked with a move away from the Anfield giants after losing his place to Loris Karius in recent months – but a link to Newcastle United is just plain strange.
Rafa Benitez has been accredited with an interest in the Belgian shot-stopper – despite Martin Dubravka’s impressive start on Tyneside. Such is the Spaniard’s lack of faith in the alternatives residing at the club, that the Magpies have seemingly been linked with a new goalkeeper every other month this season.
A move for Mignolet in the close-season would probably be met with widespread condemnation from Newcastle fans, not least due to his previous Sunderland ties – the likes of Javier Manquillo and DeAndre Yedlin are lucky to have escaped the same criticism due to their respective spells on Wearside being so utterly forgettable. Mignolet will not be so lucky – after all, who could forget the sight of him despairing as the Magpies sank five past him on Halloween 2010? Unforgivably, it was the club’s last home win over Sunderland to date.
Aside from his links to the enemy, Mignolet is a goalkeeper looking shot of confidence. The Belgian’s glaring weaknesses are his failure to command his penalty area, his fallibility under high balls and a general tendency for the erratic.
By contrast, Dubravka – an altogether cheaper option should the club make his switch from Sparta Prague permanent – has looked assured and controlled between the posts.
So let’s have no more talk of a move for this Liverpool flop.