Liverpool are among the strong admirers of Bart Verbruggen, Football Insider reports, and the 24-year-old Netherlands goalkeeper has been identified as the man the club wants to inherit the gloves if Alisson leaves.

Verbruggen has been one of the Premier League’s form goalkeepers this season, with 11 clean sheets in 14 appearances across all competitions. He also played at the 2026 World Cup for the Netherlands.

The vacancy Mamardashvili was supposed to fill

Alisson’s Liverpool deal expires at the end of the current campaign. Juventus pushed hard for the Brazilian in the summer, agreeing personal terms in principle on a three-year contract, but Liverpool declined to match the length of the offer and kept him. The Italian club is expected to return for him as a free agent next year.

Football Insider wrote of “some high-profile mistakes already this season” and said “there is a growing feeling the time may have come for him to finally move on.”

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Giorgi Mamardashvili, signed from Valencia as Alisson’s eventual successor, has not forced his way in. Reports this week say the Georgian is “not currently viewed as the long-term replacement” either. That is the vacancy Verbruggen is being lined up for.

Brighton’s problem: Real Madrid are watching too

Verbruggen is contracted to Brighton until the summer of 2028, which leaves the club with a choice no seller enjoys: extend now, or face a bidding window as early as next summer. Real Madrid have identified him as a long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois, and sources told Football Insider the Dutchman would “find it hard” to turn down a move to Madrid.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have also been monitoring Verbruggen, according to Football Insider. Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, speaking to Football365, put the thinking plainly.

“Liverpool, like all the top clubs, will be doing homework on a number of players and they’ll have contingency plans in place,” he told the outlet.

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The next formal decision point is next summer, when Alisson’s contract expires and Brighton will have to sell, extend or let Verbruggen run down a year of his.

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