Liverpool beat Real Madrid to the signing of 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans in a £30million deal on transfer deadline day.
The Belgian youth international visited Madrid before Liverpool accelerated their move and flew him to Merseyside to complete the transfer.
Brughmans becomes the most expensive teenage goalkeeper in football history and returns to Genk on loan for the remainder of the season.
He is widely viewed as the long-term successor to Alisson Becker, whose Liverpool contract expires next summer.
Meanwhile, Bradley Barcola has yet to score or assist since his £123million arrival as the club's second-most expensive signing.
Former France defender Frank Lebouef told reporters Barcola is not worth that fee because nobody is in the current market.
Lebouef added the winger needs time to adapt to the Premier League after playing with more space at PSG under Luis Enrique.
Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League with two wins and three draws after five games under Andoni Iraola.
The Reds recorded a 1-0 win over Bournemouth before the international break, their third consecutive clean sheet.
Iraola's side have signed Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz and new full-backs this window as the squad continues to find its rhythm.
Key transfer details
- Lucca Brughmans: £30m from Genk, loaned back for 2026/27
- Bradley Barcola: £123m signing, no goal or assist yet
- Alisson Becker: Contract expires summer 2027
- Liverpool: 6th in Premier League after five games
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Source: Mirror
