Liverpool already have at least one quality addition to their squad for the 2025/26 season. That is because Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to join them from Valencia for £29 million. The Reds agreed a deal to sign him during the 2024 summer window, but delayed his official arrival until July 2025.
Mamardashvili mostly gained his repertoire with his heroics in Euro 2024 for Georgia. He helped them make it to the Round of 16, even keeping a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Portugal. His heroics in the European championships compelled Liverpool to sign him as a long-term option, despite already having Alisson and Caiomhin Kelleher.
The Georgian goalkeeper’s actual arrival, however, could cause for a potential headache. As per The Athletic, Mamardashvili joined Liverpool with the intention of being an undisputed no.1. He is determined to be a starting goalkeeper for the Reds and does not feel like he joined Liverpool to be a benchwarmer.
Giorgi Mamardashvili.
— LALIGA (@LaLiga) July 6, 2024#LALIGAHighlights | @valenciacf pic.twitter.com/yEanIzN8tZ
In fact, after Barcelona’s 7-1 win over Valencia in La Liga in January (2025), Mamardashvili was asked why he didn’t join Liverpool in 2024 and replied ‘Alisson’. This could create a major dilemma for Arne Slot to deal with next season.
Alisson is still contracted to Liverpool until the end of June, 2027 and has established his place as a starting goalkeeper for them. He has been in impressive form this season, despite missing a chunk of it because of injury. The 32-year-old has 11 assists in 25 appearances this season, only conceding 20 goals in that period.
The Brazilian goalkeeper was especially impressive in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City. Alisson, obviously, has no intentions on leaving Anfield anytime soon. Nor will he accept a bench role after being Liverpool no.1 since joining from AS Roma in 2018.
Kelleher, of course, is reportedly going to push for his exit from Liverpool in the summer. Arne Slot will have to come up with a plan to keep both Alisson and Mamardashvili happy.
The Liverpool fans, who love the Brazilian goalkeeper for his consistency over the years, would probably want him to remain in that role. But to ensure that the Georgian goalkeeper doesn’t become restless and annoyed, Slot might have to smartly rotate them to keep both satisfied.
