According to Italian football insider Gianluca Di Marzio, Estonia national team first-choice goalkeeper Karl Jakob Hein has emerged as a potential target for Serie A side Genoa as the club looks to resolve its goalkeeping situation.
The 23-year-old is currently spending the season in the Bundesliga on loan at Werder Bremen from Arsenal. Hein has primarily served as the club’s second-choice goalkeeper behind Germany U-21 international Mio Backhaus, making two Bundesliga appearances so far this season.
Reports from Italian media over the past day indicate that Hein is being considered internally by Genoa as a possible option in goal. The club’s head coach, Daniele De Rossi – a former Italy international and member of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad – has reportedly requested the signing of a goalkeeper.
Genoa had previously been linked with Brazilian goalkeeper Bento of Al-Nassr, though negotiations are said to have stalled. Stefan Ortega of Manchester City, has also been mentioned among potential candidates, with Hein also included in the group of names under consideration.
Genoa currently sit 15th in the Serie A table with 19 points. The team’s current first-choice goalkeeper is 32-year-old Italian Nicola Leali, who has held the number one position at the club for the past two seasons. This marks his first extended spell as a regular starter in Serie A since the 2015/16 season, with previous years playing in Serie B, Greece and Japan.
If the move goes through, Genoa would become Hein’s third club in Europe’s top five leagues in the past two seasons, following his loan spell at Real Valladolid in La Liga last season.
Source: https://gianlucadimarzio.com/
