Liverpool ‘to hand Simon Mignolet new contract’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is to hand goalkeeper Simon Mignolet a new contract this side of Christmas, according to The Mirror.
The Belgium international provoked the ire of some Reds fans in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion when a botched clearance allowed Craig Dawson to level the scores at 1-1.
“I said to Simon at half time, ‘if somebody says it is your fault, you can say it’s not true, it’s my fault.’ Because I want a keeper who helps,” Klopp said of Mignolet’s error. “I want a keeper who comes out and tries everything. With 20 players around him, he tried but didn’t get the ball for the first goal.”
Talks with the 27-year-old over an extension to his current deal, which has two-and-a-half years still to run, have been ongoing for some time and now Klopp has given his “emphatic blessing” to push through new terms in the next fortnight.
The draw with the Baggies left Liverpool ninth in the Premier League table, five points adrift of fourth place.