The speculation over talks between Liverpool and Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland continue to swirl as the EFL transfer window deadline looms. The Reds are desperate to bring in an upgrade on the disappointing Adrian, who recently shipped a mammoth seven goals in their latest Premier League match.

First choice goalkeeper Alisson is currently out of action with a shoulder injury and could miss as much as six weeks' worth of important games. After Adrian's dismal display against Aston Villa, it seems Liverpool have hit panic stations and don't trust the Spaniard to fill in for such a long amount of time.

Signing Butland wouldn't just be a smart big of business from the league champions, but it would equally benefit the player himself.

Liverpool and Butland: Perfect match

The England international is yet to play a single game for Stoke this season. Butland has been left on the bench for the four Championship matches so far and wasn't even named in the Potters' EFL Cup run. In fact, the 27-year-old was dropped for 11 league games last season, with Adam Davies proving to be the preferred choice at the moment (via Transfermarkt).

Liverpool look set to send youngster Caoimhin Kelleher out on loan which leaves the senior squad with just Alisson and Adrian in the ranks. But the Spaniard's Villa nightmare isn't the first of his disastrous performances. Adrian was at fault in Jurgen Klopp's FA Cup and Champions League run last campaign, making huge costly errors against Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

Not only will Liverpool lift Butland out of a very frustrating situation and potentially start him in every game until Alisson returns, but the player should deliver more convincing performances for the club than Adrian. He has long been viewed as a solid performer in goal, with former Stoke boss Mark Hughes branding him as "excellent" when he was just 20-years-old.

The former Leeds United man has experience of both the Premier League and Championship and has also made four appearances in the FA Cup (as per Transfermarkt). His hunger to get back into the action will no doubt spur on some inspired performances and help kick Liverpool back into winning ways.

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