Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen responds to Liverpool transfer rumours
Bart Verbruggen has been one of the Seagulls' standout performers this season
Bart Verbruggen has played down transfer speculation linking him with Liverpool, insisting he is happy at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Netherlands international has been one of the Seagulls’ standout performers this season, keeping a league-high seven clean sheets in 10 appearances to help Brighton enter the November international break second in the Premier League.
His performances have attracted interest from several clubs, including Liverpool and Aston Villa, with the 24-year-old reportedly emerging as a potential target.
Liverpool could be forced to consider signing a new goalkeeper next summer, with first-choice Alisson Becker currently approaching the end of his contract.
However, should an agreement fail to materialise, he could leave as a free agent and negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1.
Verbruggen, who previously attracted Liverpool’s attention while at Anderlecht, is aware of the latest speculation but is not giving it much consideration.
“Right now we’re doing really well at Brighton,” Bart Verbruggen told NOS. “So it would be a real shame to ruin that by living in the future.
“I really try to stay in the moment, to focus on what is currently going on. I enjoy that, and that is also how I perform best.
“I think that is an evaluation you have to make when the moment is right. And that is absolutely not the case now.
“If you start living in the future or the past, I think your performance goes down. So I try to stay away from that. For now, life is beautiful.
“I feel like I’m in the zone and I’ve hit good form. But of course, when a team is running well, it is easier for individuals to shine.
“It is of course always a nice feeling when you play well and reach a high level. But you are in the middle of a season that is so busy, so you try to focus on what lies ahead and on what you can do day by day.”
Liverpool have already started planning for the future in goal.
The Reds signed Giorgi Mamardashvili and Armin Pecsi last year and have also agreed a £30million deal with Genk for Lucca Brughmans, who is expected to arrive next summer.
Read more: Virgil van Dijk “not in any panic” about his Liverpool contract situation
