Former Liverpool coach Pepijn Lijnders may use his connection with the club to facilitate a summer transfer, as reports from Austria suggest interest in goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros. Lijnders recently joined Red Bull Salzburg as the head coach, along with former Liverpool staff members Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer. The strong relationship between Liverpool and the Red Bull group has sparked speculation that Lijnders could explore potential transfers from his former team.
One player who has emerged as a potential target for Salzburg is Jaros. According to Salzburger Nachrichten, the 22-year-old goalkeeper, who helped Sturm Graz win the Austrian Bundesliga title during his loan spell last season, is highly sought after by Lijnders. Currently representing the Czech Republic in Euro 2024, Jaros has already proven himself in the league and is seen as a new competitor for Salzburg’s first-choice goalkeeper, Alexander Schlager.
The possibility of Jaros moving to Salzburg, or even Liverpool, remains uncertain. It is unclear whether he would be receptive to a move where he wouldn’t be guaranteed the number one spot. After his loan stint at Sturm Graz last season, it is likely that Jaros would seek a starting role if he were to make a move.
However, there is another theory regarding Jaros’ future at Liverpool. Some speculate that he could be retained as a backup option for Alisson. With Caoimhin Kelleher expressing his desire to become a number one goalkeeper either at Liverpool or elsewhere, and Adrian potentially rejecting a new contract in favor of returning to Spain, Liverpool will need to consider their goalkeeping options. Jaros, being a homegrown player and having gained valuable experience at a high level, could be seen as a viable candidate for the backup role.
In a recent interview with This Is Anfield, Jaros mentioned the pathway to the first team that has been established following Kelleher’s breakthrough. He also stated that his future is in the hands of Arne Slot, Liverpool’s upcoming manager. Jaros prefers to focus on short-term goals rather than setting long-term targets.
Liverpool has yet to appoint a new goalkeeping coach after the departures of John Achterberg and Jack Robinson. However, Claudio Taffarel remains part of Slot’s backroom staff. This uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeping coaching position adds another layer of unpredictability to Jaros’ future at the club.