'Life-changing' Liverpool transfer piles pressure on new signing

'Life-changing' Liverpool transfer piles pressure on new signing: 'I'll protect him' Make us your Google favourite Genk manager Jess Thorup has suggested that he may have to step in and "protect" Lucca Brughmans after his "life-changing" transfer to Liverpool . The Reds announced the surprising acquisition of the 18-year-old on Deadline Day last week. Liverpool struck a deal worth a whopping €35 million with Genk for Brughmans before sending him back to the Jupiler Pro League club on loan. Despite his youth, the Belgian U19 captain has been Genk's starting goalkeeper since the latter stages of last season. Brughmans has made 16 senior appearances thus far, including five this term. After a difficult start to the season, which saw him concede eight goals in three games, the teenager has now kept clean sheets in back-to-back games. On Sunday, Genk played out a scoreless draw with Anderlecht. Ahead of the game, former Netherlands international John Boskamp waxed lyrical about Brughmans , suggesting that he is the biggest Belgian goalkeeper talent since Thibaut Courtois, and described the "brilliantly negotiated" deal with Liverpool as suiting all parties. Brughmans now firmly in the spotlight Joining a club as big as Liverpool has naturally put the spotlight firmly on Brughmans. Boskamp suggested that the 18-year-old could already be part of the Reds' first team next season, given that Alisson's contract is due to expire. For now, he will stay with Genk, but the pressure has been cranked up to 11 after completing a €35m transfer. His manager, Jess Thorup, recognises this and says that he may have to step in and "protect" the prospect. He told : "Naturally, I’ve spoken to Lucca about his transfer. We talked about the experience of going to Liverpool, and the involvement of his family and so on. "Every player dreams of this, and suddenly - before you fully realise it - you’re right in the middle of it. You need a moment to let something like that sink in." "Of course, there’s a lot coming his way. He’s in the spotlight because of the fee involved. I’ll protect him at the right moments because we mustn’t forget that the role of Genk’s first-choice goalkeeper is still quite new to him." Thorup isn't suggesting that he could drop Brughmans, but he may have to be given "a rest" at some point this season. "[Goalkeeper coach] Steven Frederix and I will assess match by match whether we need to give him a rest," the Dane said, alluding to the fact that the shot-stopper "sometimes overthinks things." Thus far, however, Brughmans has handled his "life-changing" transition with aplomb. "Although he is only 18, I can tell you that he remains calm and focused. The realisation that his life has changed will probably sink in sometime in the coming weeks." Thorup echoed Boskamp's words that keeping the teenager at Genk was the correct decision. "It is the right choice for everyone that he stays for another year. He can continue to develop here, and we have a good goalkeeper at our disposal."