Generational Liverpool talent expected to replace Real Madrid star

Liverpool have a generational talent on their books. He's been tipped to replace one Real Madrid star and it'll likely happen soon.

Liverpool had a very strange end to the transfer window. Bradley Barcola arrived from Paris Saint-Germain but calls for them to sign a right-back and centre-midfielder came to nothing.

And yet, while Barcola was the sole addition to the first-team squad, he wasn't the only signing. Liverpool also completed a deal with Genk to sign Lucca Brughmans, an 18-year-old goalkeeper.

The deal came out of absolutely no one and with a surprising fee: €35m. The Reds went all-in on a young goalkeeper who they plainly believe could be a superstar in the making.

Brughmans was one of only two goalkeepers who played at least 900 minutes across the winter leagues last season. He was an absolute outlier to be playing that much at his age, in his position, in a league as strong as Belgium's.

So why's he getting those minutes? Well, it apears to be because Brughmans is considered a truly generational talent in his homeland.

Former Dutch midfielder, and Belgian football analyst, Johan Boskamp is adamant that the youngster is something special. He feels he's the best Belgian goalkeeping talent since Thibaut Courtois and the successor in the national team to the Real Madrid star.

“Perhaps the greatest Belgian goalkeeping talent since Thibaut Courtois," he said, per Voetbal Focus. "He has everything: height, speed, and good footwork.

“€35m is a lot of money, but I do think Liverpool has made a good deal. I genuinely believe Brughmans will become the national team’s future goalkeeper.”

It's a big statement. Especially when the current Manchester United no.1, Senne Lammens, is Belgian. The hype around Brughmans exceeds that, though, and he's considered his country's best goalkeeping talent in a generation.

If he can anywhere near Courtois' level, Liverool will have something remarkable on their hands. We'll be crossing our fingers and paying attention this season and he continues in goal for Genk.