Liverpool star will “seek exit” if opportunities don’t emerge

Liverpool star will “seek exit” if opportunities don’t emerge Liverpool face Mamardashvili decision as Alisson contract uncertainty grows Liverpool’s next major goalkeeping decision could settle two futures at once. A new contract for Alisson would preserve an established source of reassurance, but it could also leave Giorgi Mamardashvili wondering when his opportunity will arrive. That is the dilemma outlined by James Pearce, who has suggested the Georgia international would probably leave in 2027 if Liverpool extend the Brazilian’s stay. There is no confirmed departure, nor any suggestion that a final decision has been made. Instead, Liverpool face a familiar difficulty: preparing for life beyond an outstanding goalkeeper while he remains the man everyone else must displace. Photo IMAGO Contract uncertainty puts Liverpool’s plans in focus Alisson’s current deal is reported to expire next summer, with Pearce indicating that talks over a new contract have yet to begin. For Liverpool, the significance stretches beyond securing one player. Any extension would shape the prospects of Mamardashvili, who arrived in 2025 and has spent his time at the club competing with an established first choice. Keeping both offers valuable depth. Sustaining that arrangement becomes more complicated when the younger goalkeeper needs regular football to advance his own career. A contract decision therefore carries a sporting consequence as well as a financial one. Liverpool must consider who gives them the strongest team now and how much longer those waiting behind him will accept their place. Mamardashvili future comes under scrutiny Speaking on The Athletic’s Walk On podcast , Pearce explained why retaining Alisson could prompt another change in Liverpool’s goalkeeping department. “If Alisson does stay, Mamardashvili isn’t going to tolerate being backup for a third successive season. “If Alisson stays, that probably means that Mamardashvili goes, and then they’ve invested a lot of money in this young Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans. Then you’ve got [Vitezslav] Jaros; he’ll be back in a few months. They’ve got Armin Pecsi, who’s out on loan in Austria at the moment. “I get the feeling that they’re quite happy with what they’ve got further down the line in terms of five, six, seven years’ time, but the immediate future is really uncertain.” His assessment is conditional. It describes a possible consequence of an Alisson contract extension, rather than an agreed exit for Mamardashvili. That distinction matters. Until Liverpool settle their plans, the Georgian’s position remains open. Goalkeeping depth brings difficult choices The names identified by Pearce show how many options Liverpool have assembled. Brughmans, Jaros and Pecsi offer different possibilities, although having several goalkeepers on the books does not automatically resolve the question of who should start next season. Development rarely follows a convenient timetable. A promising youngster may need games elsewhere, while a senior understudy may reach the point where occasional appearances are no longer enough. Mamardashvili’s situation sits at the centre of that tension. Being trusted to step in is valuable, but it is a different responsibility from being trusted to lead a team through a full campaign. If Alisson signs a new contract, Liverpool would need a convincing explanation of what comes next for his deputy. Without one, the prospect of regular starts elsewhere could become increasingly attractive. Liverpool need clarity before summer 2027 For now, the most important issue is clarity. Liverpool need to establish whether Alisson will remain their first choice beyond his current agreement, then assess how that decision affects everyone behind him. An extension could provide continuity in a crucial position. It could also bring forward a conversation about Mamardashvili’s future that the club might otherwise prefer to postpone. Pearce’s comments underline the difficulty of managing succession when the incumbent remains so influential. Liverpool can invest in tomorrow, but they still have to select a goalkeeper today. For Mamardashvili, the next Alisson contract decision could determine whether his future belongs at Liverpool or somewhere offering a clearer route to regular football. Word count: 637, including title and subheadings.