Neil Etheridge failed to stop Cardiff City from being relegated from the Premier League but could he seal a shock move to Liverpool just weeks later?
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes Neil Etheridge would be a fine addition to Jurgen Klopp’s squad amid rumours linking the Premier League runners-up with a move for the Cardiff City goalkeeper, speaking to ESPN.
Wales Online claimed last week that Liverpool had made an enquiry about the 29-year-old Filipino international, who is expected to be on the move this summer after Cardiff were relegated to the Championship.
Aston Villa have already had a bid rejected for a player valued in South Wales at over £10 million. But with Liverpool expected to sell Simon Mignolet, there is a place at Anfield for a back-up goalkeeper and Etheridge could prove a worthy successor.
The one-time Fulham youngster produced a series of outstanding performances to help Cardiff stave off relegation until the penultimate weekend of 2018/19 and Nicol has backed him to make a positive impact at Anfield.
“I think this would be a good signing. I think the 69 goals he let in, he probably had no chance with 55 of them, let’s be honest,” Nicol said.
“He’s going to be professional. He’s not going to be pulling off spectacular saves but you know what you’re getting. He’s decent with his feet, he does all the basics right.
“I think this is a good signing. He’s 29 years old, he’s been around, he knows what it’s like to be playing at the lower level so his feet will be firmly on the ground.
“I think this is a great move for him and I think this is a good move for Liverpool as well. You know what you’re getting. You’re not panicking whenever something happens to your No. 1.”
The report did add that Etheridge would prefer a move to Aston Villa than Liverpool, possibly because he knows that he’d spend most of his time at Merseyside sitting on the bench behind Brazil international Alisson Becker.
