Liverpool transfer rumours won’t distract Socceroos keeper Mat Ryan from Asian Cup focus

SOCCEROOS goalkeeper Mat Ryan has brushed off rumours of a possible move to EPL giants Liverpool to stay focused on Australia’s Asian Cup campaign.

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SOCCEROOS keeper Mat Ryan has been identified as a potential solution to Premier League giants Liverpool’s goalkeeping woes, on the day he claimed two awards.

Ryan claimed his second Harry Kewell medal, as the players association’s young player of the year, edging out Mathew Leckie and former Central Coast teammate Trent Sainsbury.

He was also named Belgian keeper of the year for 2014 on Thursday, after leading Club Brugge to the top of the ladder and to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

PSV Eindhoven is also interested in Ryan, who penned a four-year extension with Club Brugge last November but appears to be edging closer to following in the footsteps of local icons Mark Schwarzer and Mark Bosnich and playing in the Premier League.

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Ryan has gone from strength to strengh since leaving Australia to play in Europe.

Speaking after receiving his PFA gong alongside players of the year Mile Jedinak, Ryan said the rumours didn’t faze him ahead of Saturday’s crucial Asian Cup clash with South Korea.

“Social media. It’s pretty hard to ignore something like that,’’ Ryan said.

“I have an agent that looks after that sort of stuff.

“My focus is here now for the Socceroos and the game on Saturday night.”

Neither Simon Mignolet or Aussie Brad Jones have convinced Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is alarmed at the drop in form of Belgian Simon Mignolet.

But Aussie backup Brad Jones limped off in the Boxing Day clash with Burnley after straining his thigh.

WA-born Jones is out of contract at the end of the season, with untried Welsh keeper Danny Ward, 21, now on the bench at Anfield.

Rodgers has an intimate knowledge of the Socceroos and has previously tried to sign ball-playing defenders Matthew Spiranovic and Rhys Williams, with the latter still on the radar.

“I had this stuff just before the World Cup with Real Madrid and I still don’t know if that was true or not,’’ Ryan said.

“It’s nice to be associated with a club like that but if it’s meant to be it’ll happen in the future.’’

Ryan, 22, had a disappointing World Cup and Borussia Dortmund’s Mitch Langerak pressured him ahead of the Asian Cup after breaking into the German club’s first team.

But Ryan has had a stellar start to the Asian Cup, producing at least three top class saves and conceding just one goal which he could do little about.

Originally published as Liverpool transfer rumours won’t distract Socceroos keeper Mat Ryan from Asian Cup focus