LORIS KARIUS HAS zero intention of departing Liverpool this summer as the goalkeeper prepares for the battle to become the club’s number one.
Reports have claimed the 23-year-old is considering a return to Germany having fielded offers from the Bundesliga. However, that is inaccurate, according to his agent.
Jurgen Klopp, who recruited the keeper in a £4.7 million deal from Mainz last July, remains confident Karius will display the form that made him one of Europe’s most promising prospects between the sticks in 2015/16.
And the player has already been powering through his fitness programme while on holiday to ensure he is in peak condition for pre-season.
Simon Mignolet and Danny Ward also have designs on starting in goal for the Reds — although the latter could still potentially return to Huddersfield — with the German spurred on by the competition.
“There is absolutely nothing to the rumours that Karius will leave,” his agent Florian Goll detailed to Goal.
“He did not sign at Liverpool for the short term — he believes in the vision of the manager and he wants to be fully fit and prepared to fight for the No1 position from the first day back.
He has already started his individual programme to keep fit during the summer, because he wants to be completely ready when pre-season starts.
“He is extremely motivated by the competition.”
Karius endured a difficult opening to life on Merseyside after breaking a bone in his right hand during the club’s tour of the United States. The setback only saw him make the first 11 towards the end of September, but he was taken out of the firing line two months later following intense criticism after errors against Bournemouth and West Ham.
Klopp felt it was not necessary to “push Loris through the situation” with the fault-finding unrelenting. “This is a long-term project at LFC,” the Reds boss explained at the time.
“We really want to improve the club, we know we have to be successful as soon as possible, but on the other hand we all feel comfortable in a situation with each other, the goalkeeper included, and I know how strong Loris Karius is.
“Loris is still very young, he’s a big goalkeeping talent and everything will be good in the end.”
Karius benefitted from the protection and delivered more solid performances during Liverpool’s cup games at the turn of the year.
He amassed 16 starts across all competitions during his debut season.
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