Loris Karius

[Fosterbloke]

When's his contract up?

[poorscousertommy]

Loris Karius is set to return to Liverpool this summer — two years after his Champions League final nightmare against Real Madrid.

The Athletic understands that Besiktas don’t intend to trigger their option to buy the German goalkeeper for £7.25 million following his turbulent loan spell in Turkey.

Barring a dramatic change in his situation over the coming months, sources close to Karius have confirmed he expects to move on with Liverpool open to offers for the 26-year-old.

There is little prospect of the former Mainz shot-stopper forcing his way back into Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad.

Alisson is firmly established as the club’s No 1 and Adrian is expected to continue as his deputy next season. The former West Ham keeper, who was signed as a free agent last August, penned a two-year contract with the option of a third year.

Adrian has proved a shrewd acquisition and excelled when called into action during Alisson’s 10-week spell on the sidelines due to a calf injury. The Spaniard is a popular figure in the dressing room and is understood to be happy to continue as back-up.

Liverpool plan to send third-choice Caoimhin Kelleher, the young Irish goalkeeper, out on loan next season and must decide whether to hand an extra year to veteran Andy Lonergan, who has impressed Jurgen Klopp with his attitude and dedication in training at Melwood after being signed as cover last summer.

Karius joined Besiktas in August 2018 on a mission to restore his shattered confidence levels after his Liverpool career unravelled in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in Kiev. The writing was on the wall for him after Klopp splashed out £65 million to buy Alisson from Roma.

Liverpool banked a £2.25 million fee for an initial two-year loan with the club confirming at the time that there was an obligation to buy him for a further £7.25 million if certain performance criteria were met related to appearances and European qualification.

However, as the loan period reaches its final few months, The Athletic understands that Besiktas, who are seventh in the Turkish League, won’t be obliged to make the arrangement permanent at the end of this season. They do still have the option to buy him but don’t intend to trigger it.

Liverpool, who have already ruled out the possibility of loaning him back to Besiktas for a third season, intend to assess the situation with Karius and his representatives. Unless a deal with another club in agreed beforehand, Karius will return to Liverpool for the start of pre-season training in early July.

Karius, whose contract at Anfield runs until 2022, has endured a difficult spell in Turkey with Besiktas going through three different managers during his time there.

Last season his form was heavily criticised by then boss Senol Gunes, who accused Karius of going “a bit stagnant” and lacking motivation. The former Manchester City youngster also had to ask FIFA to take action against Besiktas over unpaid wages.

This season they finished bottom of their Europa League group and have struggled for consistency domestically. Karius was jeered by his own fans after they crashed out of the Turkish Cup to second-tier side BB Erzurumspor in January.

Karius, who cost £4.7 million from Mainz in 2016, played the last of his 49 games for Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final when his mistakes gifted Real Madrid two goals.

It subsequently emerged that he had been suffering from concussion after taking a blow to the head from Sergio Ramos. Klopp later accused the “brutal” Real Madrid captain of deliberately targeting his keeper in an incident that went unpunished by Serbian referee Milorad Mazic.

[Kenneth]

Oh good

[Buzzo]

The team got this footage of Karius turning up to celebrate his impending return at the weekly 'team cinema night' Hendo organises.

[danperkins]

This guy is going to end up playing in the German 2nd division, awful keeper. Wouldn't even have him as our 2nd choice.

[baitman]

When's his contract up?

June, cya

Aw ****, thats just his loan... sell for magic beans.

[McDermotX]

Good Jaysus

[Cormack74]

2022 ffs.

[Saveloy]

The team got this footage of Karius turning up to celebrate his impending return at the weekly 'team cinema night' Hendo organises.

That's a tenuous link to the gif. Could you not search for epic glovesman fails?

[Fivex]

He did get on the Turkish Bake Off..

https://giphy.com/gifs/cheezburger-cat-oven-mitt-Iu4GjcxzXVg88

[Rafa Justice]

Just pay his contract up and let him find a club that will take him for free

[BG1973]

The team got this footage of Karius turning up to celebrate his impending return at the weekly 'team cinema night' Hendo organises.

Conveniently being filmed.

[Fan65]

That’s the kind of fall that got Sadio a yellow

[Buzzo]

That's a tenuous link to the gif. Could you not search for epic glovesman fails?

I was under time pressure. It was the best I could do.

[Fosterbloke]

Karius on his first day back in training -