LONDON • New Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has taken the No. 1 shirt and has signalled his intention to take Simon Mignolet's starting place too.

The 22-year-old German moved from Bundesliga side Mainz to Anfield in a £4.7 million (S$9.5 million) deal on Tuesday. And having been first-choice at Mainz, he does not want to play second fiddle to Mignolet, who will continue to wear the No. 22 shirt.

"I wouldn't make the move if I thought I was just going to sit on the bench," he told the Liverpool website after signing a five-year contract. "I want to play and I feel like I will be able to do that if I do well in training and pre-season.

"I'm confident. I've played almost 100 league games in Germany, so I'm young but I'm experienced. I'm not afraid.

"I want to play for Liverpool every week and then win a trophy with the club."

Karius, who has one Germany Under-21 cap, made 34 Bundesliga appearances last season and kept nine clean sheets.

He is Juergen Klopp's third signing since taking over in October, having secured deals in January for Schalke centre-back Joel Matip and Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic to join this summer.

"I am delighted we have signed Loris, he has had a fantastic season with Mainz and has developed into a very good goalkeeper since his return to Germany," said the Liverpool manager.

"I am really pleased that we were able to move so quickly to get him and that Loris has shown such a desire to come to Liverpool, with a lot of other clubs interested in him."

Next on the list of targets is Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell, for whom they are prepared to offer £4 million up front with some add-ons.

THE GUARDIAN