Premier League club Liverpool has opened official club-to-club contact with KRC Genk to sign 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans in a potential multi-million-euro deal, according to reports from transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano corroborated by outlets including walfoot.be and DHnet. The Jupiler Pro League starlet, currently serving as Genk’s number-one choice and captaining Belgium’s under-19 national team, is viewed by talent evaluators as the latest elite prospect emerging from the Belgian club’s renowned youth academy—following in the footsteps of Thibaut Courtois, Koen Casteels, Maarten Vandevoordt, and Mike Penders.
Transfer Dynamics and the Mamardashvili Factor
Giorgi Mamardashvili, the 25-year-old Georgia international goalkeeper who signed with the Reds in 2024 and serves as the understudy to Alisson Becker, is reportedly in discussions to join Nottingham Forest in search of regular playing time. Mamardashvili has featured in just 20 matches for Liverpool since his arrival, prompting club officials to evaluate contingency plans for the backup role behind Alisson.
To address that impending vacancy, Liverpool officials have initiated talks with Genk regarding Brughmans. In comments reported by RTBF, former Belgium international Philippe Albert remarked on the intense market momentum, stating that modern football economics are growing increasingly extraordinary.
Genk’s Factory of Goalkeeping Excellence
The potential departure of Brughmans represents a familiar scenario for KRC Genk, a club widely recognized across Europe for producing world-class goalkeepers. Similarly, Liverpool’s current assessment involves weighing whether to secure Brughmans immediately or arrange an agreement for him to officially arrive at Anfield in 2027, allowing the teenager to continue his progression in Belgium.
Despite his tender age, Brughmans has firmly established himself between the posts for Genk this season, handling high-pressure fixtures domestically and wearing the captain’s armband for his country’s youth setup.
Next Steps in the Mercato
With the transfer window reaching its final stages, discussions between Liverpool and KRC Genk remain ongoing regarding the exact timing and structure of the transaction. Observers across European football await official confirmation from both clubs as negotiations progress toward a resolution ahead of the upcoming roster deadlines.
Related reading
