Liverpool opinion: Reds complete the signing of Ben Winterbottom – a coup?
The Liverpool Echo has reported that Liverpool
A highly-rated prospect, the 17-year-old has played a significant role for Blackburn Rovers over the last two seasons with 25 appearances. He started last season brightly for the club but was then dropped out of the squad for seven of the following nine games.
However, his performances in the final few games of the season piqued Liverpool’s scouts according to this report. The 17-year-old impressed in games against Manchester City, West Brom and Liverpool themselves.
He missed the final few games, with Liverpool making their interest in the 17-year-old clear. A move was finalised recently and it is the best possible outcome for all parties.
This season, Liverpool have used the likes of Shamal George, Ben Williams, Vitezslav Jaros, Kai Mckenzie-Lyle, and Daniel Atherton. But injuries to Jaros saw the club without a goalkeeper, with both Williams and George unavailable and Atherton too old to play.
That gives Ben Winterbottom a chance to make an impact, and though his path to the
Lorius Karius is no longer rated by Jurgen Klopp and the club, which is why he was sent out on loan and second choice Simon Mignolet is on the lookout for regular football (Mirror).
This season, Liverpool have depended on Alisson Becker after signing the former AS Roma star last summer. The Brazilian has been very impressive for the Reds with 17 clean sheets to his name, leading the race for the Golden Glove.
His performances have been decisive for Liverpool and is one of the reasons why the Reds sit atop the Premier League table.
Read more Liverpool news, click here: Liverpool latest news
Conclusion
At the moment, Ben Winterbottom is not a player who Jurgen Klopp might consider for the first-team berth barring a major injury crisis. So it’s up to the young 17-year-old star to make his mark with the youth teams and force himself into the senior team.