Liverpool close to landing Jack Butland for record fee

Bengaluru, March 12: Liverpool are hopeful of landing Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland for a world-record fee of £40million, according to reports in England.

Despite the Potters' terrible season, Butland has still been impressive and is in line to be England’s No.1 at the World Cup in Russia.

Reports in England claim the 24-year-old is keen on a move to Anfield and link up with Jurgen Klopp instead of joining Arsenal.

The Potters seem resigned to losing Butland but will demand Liverpool huge money to make him the most expensive keeper in the world surpassing Ederson if they are serious about doing business.

The £40m quoted would smash the £34.7m Manchester City shelled out for Ederson from Benfica last year and significantly eclipses the £30m Everton paid Sunderland for Jordan Pickford who is Butland's key competitor for a place in England XI in many years to come.

Liverpool's goalkeeper situations have worried the fans for quite a long time now but things have improved of late.

Simon Mignolet's career looks pretty much over at Anfield but Loris Karius has been immense in recent weeks under the bar.

Despite the German's scintillating form recently, Liverpool are still being linked with top keepers which is surely a surprise.

Klopp has also been keeping an eye on Roma’s Brazilian stopper Alisson who is rated among the best keepers in the world right now.

But, it is being reported that the German has gone with Butland’s Premier League experience as a key ingredient for a new keeper next season.

If either Butland or Alisson moves to Anfield, Karius is likely to become a deputy again and that seems a bit unlikely because he has not done much wrong recently.