Rumour Mill: Liverpool “monitoring” former target Victor Valdes

Former Liverpool target Victor Valdes has re-emerged on the Reds’ radar after failing to establish himself at Manchester United, reports claim.

After deciding against a move for then-free agent Victor Valdes a year ago, Liverpool have restored their interest in the Spanish goalkeeper, with his move to north-west rivals Manchester United proving a failure.

That is according to ESPN’s Peter O’Rourke, who claims that both Liverpool and Chelsea are “monitoring” Valdes’ fortunes at Old Trafford.

“Liverpool are also considering their goalkeeping options with Simon Mignolet coming under recent scrutiny following his mistake in the 1-1 draw with Norwich last weekend,” O’Rourke writes, after suggesting Chelsea could offer Valdes a deal in light of Thibaut Courtios’ long-term injury.

O’Rourke continues to suggest that “there are continued doubts over the Belgian being the long-term answer to Liverpool’s goalkeeping problems.”

“As a result both Liverpool and Chelsea are monitoring Valdes’ situation at United, with the Spaniard still out of favour at Old Trafford,” he concludes.

Valdes emerged as a key target for Brendan Rodgers last season, with the form of Mignolet under question.

Leaving La Liga giants Barcelona in 2014, Valdes looked to regain his fitness after suffering a serious ACL injury in March of the same year.

This injury led to a proposed move to Merseyside breaking down, as Alex Miller revealed for This is Anfield in October:

Sources close to the deal have suggested that one of the major complications to completing a deal was the fact that Valdes wanted assurances he would be the club’s number one goalkeeper.

Liverpool were simply not willing to give him that assurance, especially with the player not yet match-fit and also because the club had not been able to scrutinise the players medical files and test out the ACL injury he suffered back in March.

As a result, the club decided to walk away from the deal and concentrate on other targets.

Mignolet subsequently reinforced his status as Liverpool’s No. 1 goalkeeper with a series of strong displays in 2015.

But the Belgian’s position has come under question again this season, with lapses in concentration and poor distribution creeping back into his game—summer signing Adam Bogdan, who joined on a free transfer from Bolton Wanderers, offers little in the way of competition.

With Valdes now having proven his fitness under Louis van Gaal at United, the 33-year-old finds himself frozen out of first-team contention after the Dutchman claimed he “refused to play” for the club’s under-21s side.

“He doesn’t follow my philosophy,” Van Gaal said in July. “There is no place for someone like that.”

Valdes is arguably a much better option than Mignolet, and therefore Rodgers would be wise to pursue a move if he becomes available.

Whether O’Rourke’s claims are substantial, however, remains to be seen.

• Read more: Simon Mignolet remains a concern that won’t go away for Liverpool

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