Liverpool have announced that they have completed a deal to sign the experienced Austrian keeper Alex Manninger on a free transfer, subject to international clearance.
The 39-year-old has signed a one year contract at Anfield and will be the third choice keeper for Klopp behind Mignolet and new signing Loris Karius. Manninger was released from FC Augsburg at the end of last season.
Recently, Liverpool loaned out the likes of Bogdan and Ward to free up a space for the Austrian keeper.
Manninger said: “Honestly, it was a surprise. After these years, in Italy and the last four years in Germany, I hadn’t given up, I hadn’t said ‘that’s it’, I still waited for the phone call.”
“When Liverpool was on the phone, it was a great pleasure for me to take it on because it gives me what I was looking for. This is the moment I was waiting for until the end.”
“I’ve still got something left, for sure, but obviously it’s probably not the time for me to push for the next three or four years to get a place in the goal. Because time says it’s not possible to play 50 games a year. But if I’m called up, I’m definitely there for games, I will play. And I’ll definitely be in the changing room every game, giving my input; I hope, even if it’s only a couple of per cent, it will do the rest.”
The former Arsenal star was training with the Premier League outfit over the last week and has apparently impressed Klopp and the other coaching staff. Manninger has represented his country 34 times and has also played for several big clubs including Arsenal, Fiorentina, Udinese and Juventus during his career.
The Reds are now expected to complete the signing of Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle United. A fee of 25 million pounds has been agreed between the two clubs.
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