Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is being considered as a possible transfer target by Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart.

That's according to a Kicker report published on Friday.

The lowdown

Since his implosion in the 2018 Champions League final, Karius has twice been sent out on loan. He spent the subsequent two seasons with Super Lig outfit Besiktas and then joined up with Union Berlin last September.

Karius has largely been second-choice in the German capital, starting only four league matches and one DFP-Pokal tie (via Transfermarkt). Manager Urs Fischer admitted that the 27-year-old is 'not happy' but said he could 'handle' the fact that the goalkeeper was 'cross' with him.

Karius is about to enter the final year of his £25,000-per-week Liverpool contract.

The latest

The proposed Stuttgart deal could hinge on the future of their incumbent number one Gregor Kobel, who is 'in demand'. Borussia Dortmund are said to be interested in the Swiss 'keeper, who would cost €15m (£12.9m) according to Kicker.

Karius is one of the two 'favourites' to succeed Kobel should the latter leave the Mercedes-Benz Arena, with Mainz's Florian Muller also targeted by Stuttgart.

The verdict

This summer will probably be Liverpool's best chance to make money from the sale of Karius, who will be able to walk away on a free next year as things stand, and Kobel's possible departure could open the door to a move to Stuttgart.

He demonstrated in the months before the Champions League final in Kiev that he could be a reasonably good goalkeeper when his confidence in high, establishing himself as Jurgen Klopp's firm number one in the latter half of 2017/18.

The task of any new manager will be to rebuild that self-belief and lift the 27-year-old from a difficult few years for him if Karius is sold by Liverpool, where Caoimhin Kelleher seems poised to secure the role of Alisson's deputy given the Irishman's impressive displays this season.

Elsewhere, there's good news on this Liverpool transfer target.