With Liverpool looking to revamp their squad for the following Premier League season, Dutch media outlet De Telegraaf confirm that the club has added Feyenoord shot-stopper Justin Bijlow to its shortlist for the goalkeeper position.
Liverpool Eyeing Transfer Swoop Justin Bijlow
Bijlow on Liverpool’s Shortlist
Bijlow has been in and out of the Feyenoord starting lineup this season due to injury, playing 24 times across all competitions for the Dutch side.
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Interestingly, the decision to shortlist the 26-year-old wasn’t influenced by Arne Slot’s appointment to the Merseyside giants as the club’s scouts had been watching the player even before Jurgen Klopp’s announcement to leave in January.
Justin Bijlow: A Closer Look
The goalkeeper signed his first professional contract with Feyenoord in February 2015 after moving through the ranks at the academy. The following season, he would only become an unused substitute as the Dutch side lifted its first league title in eighteen years, but the 2018/19 campaign would be Bijlow’s breakthrough season as he was announced the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
The 26-year-old would then go on to keep a clean sheet and save two penalties in the Johan Cruyff final but lost to PSV Eindhoven. Bijlow’s performances have been instrumental in Feyenoord’s recent success, as the Dutch goalkeeper made 24 appearances under Arne Slot and managed to keep nine clean sheets despite struggling with two separate injuries (wrist and calf).
Transfer Uncertainties
In recent weeks, Liverpool has seen several departures following Klopp’s confirmed departure in January. Cameroonian defender Joel Matip and Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara both announced their immediate departures at the end of the season. With Slot coming in next term, Liverpool will be looking to improve their squad, but they’ll also be monitoring the goalkeeper situation.
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Third-choice keeper Adrian has openly expressed his desire to return to La Liga, and second-choice keeper Caiomhin Kelleher may explore a summer transfer for game time despite having two years left on his contract.
England’s Interest Not New
According to The Athletic, Manchester United made contact with the Feyenoord man back in July 2023 to acquire his services in addition to the signing of Champions League winner Mason Mount from Chelsea. De Telegraaf also noted that Arsenal have been recently linked to the goalkeeper as it’s stated that Arteta is looking for someone able and ready to compete with David Raya immediately, similar to Ederson and Stefan Ortega in Manchester City.
The signing of a new goalkeeper appears to be a top priority for Arteta, as he wants to agree to a deal to sign someone in the coming weeks, with the Feyenoord shot-stopper deemed a very serious option.
Although Bijlow reached an agreement with the team to extend his contract to mid-2025 back in August 2021, with the transfer merry-go-round happening in the football world at the moment, it would be interesting to see where he could end up.
