Liverpool complete first transfer of January window as goalkeeper deal done

Arne Slot has allowed Marcelo Pitaluga to leave for Fluminense (Image: GETTY)

Liverpool have confirmed their first business of the January transfer window with back-up goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga agreeing a permanent move to rejoin his old club Fluminense, subject to international clearance.

Pitaluga joined the Reds as a 17-year-old in 2020 from the same Brazilian outfit in a deal worth up to £1.8million.

But the shot-stopper, now 22, never made a first-team appearance under Jurgen Klopp or Arne Slot. He now returns to the Brazilian Serie A side for free.

A club statement said: "Everyone at LFC wishes Marcelo the best of luck for the future."

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Brazilian outlet O Globo claim that Liverpool have inserted a 40 per cent sell-on clause into Pitaluga's contract should he move elsewhere in the future.

While a Liverpool player, Pitaluga spent time on loan at Macclesfield, St Patrick’s Athletic and Livingston and several times made the first-team match-day squad for the Anfield outfit.

The Merseyside club have chosen to release him because they have a plethora of options between the sticks, with Alisson Becker, Caomhin Kelleher and Vitezslav Jaros the three main options at senior level.

For the under-21s, Liverpool also have Harvey Davies, Fabian Mrozek and Jakub Orjzynski.

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It appears unlikely Liverpool will be doing much incoming business in January despite their problems at left-back this season and a lack of depth in the defensive midfield role.

Slot also seems to be lacking an out-and-out centre-forward with Cody Gakpo preferred on the left wing and Luis Diaz frequently acting as a makeshift striker.

Darwin Nunez is low on confidence and appears to be approaching the end of his Anfield career, while Diogo Jota continues to struggle with injuries.

Liverpool are believed to instead be lining up deals for the summer after a quiet first window under Slot last year saw only Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili, the goalkeeper back out on loan at Valencia, brought in.

Liverpool complete first transfer of January window as goalkeeper deal done

Liverpool complete first transfer of January window as goalkeeper deal done

Liverpool complete first transfer of January window as goalkeeper deal done

Liverpool complete first transfer of January window as goalkeeper deal done

Liverpool complete first transfer of January window as goalkeeper deal done