Liverpool Reportedly Agree Loris Karius Loan-to-Buy Deal

Given how often Liverpool players are linked with moves to Turkey only for nothing to happen, most assumed rumours of Loris Karius potentially heading to Besiktas would amount to nothing. It comes as some surprise, then, that the deal appears to be on.

According to club-connected journalists including The Echo’s James Pearce, Karius is set to join the Turkish Super Lig side on a two-year loan that includes a purchase option—said to become mandatory if Karius reaches an achievable appearance threshold.

Besiktas will reportedly pay £2.25M up front to loan Karius, and will also pay the German goalkeeper’s wages. If the deal becomes permanent in 2020 they would pay a further £7.25M, bringing the total value of the deal to a quite cheap £9.5M.

It isn’t a lot for Besiktas to pay, assuming Karius plays enough for them to have to pay it, but the deal does also a 20% sell-on fee to cover Liverpool in case Karius develops into a goalkeeper who can demand a large fee and move back to a top league.

Besiktas had been linked to both Karius and Simon Mignolet, but Liverpool had been seeking £12M and an immediate permanent transfer for Mignolet that priced the Turkish club out of the market.