Jurgen Klopp has overseen some serious progress at Anfield in more than two years at the club but is still a fair distance away from claiming his first silverware in England. He has accumulated a decent squad at Liverpool but there are frailties in the side that need to be addressed this summer.
The goal keeper’s position is a bit of a problem for Klopp, who is expected to spend on one before the start of the next season and the latest name doing the rounds is that of Iker Casillas.
Liverpool Serious About Casillas:
A transfer target for the Reds even at the start of the season, and for a couple of clubs in China and America, Casillas is currently in the final few months of his contract with Portuguese outfit FC Porto and is expected to move on at the end of the season.
At 36, he is still actively looking for another club and reports now claim that Liverpool are in talks with the former Real Madrid man, over a move this summer. He will be a free-agent and will lend loads of experience to the squad at Anfield but is he the right man for the Reds?
Casillas And His Legacy:
Having started his career with Real Madrid’s youth academy, Casillas was promoted to the first team in 1999 and spent 16 long years at Bernabeu, standing as the first choice for the club for almost a decade. He has lifted five La Liga titles and 3 UCL titles to add to a FIFA World Cup and a couple of European Championships, and stands as one of the most decorated players in the game at the moment.
He was a part of the UEFA Team of the Year for six consecutive years till 2012 and was only allowed to join Porto in 2015. He spent a season in the first team but has managed just 77 league appearances in over two years with the Portuguese giants, where he is yet to win any silverware.
A shot-stopper known for his positioning and reflexes, Casillas may not be at his best at this age but he showed that he still has what it takes at the highest level when he travelled to Anfield earlier this season with Porto to keep a clean sheet.
He has made an astonishing 524 La Liga appearances and 167 UCL appearances and is one of the most experienced players in the competition still active at the moment. He will add valuable knowledge to the squad at Anfield but where does he fit in?
Where Does Casillas Fit In?
The Reds have Simon Mignolet, who has lost his first-team spot to Loris Karius this season, along with Danny Ward as backups for the German shot-stopper. The Belgian international is already linked with an exit and the recent performances from Karius might see him cement his place in the first team for years to come.
Liverpool are still interested in Alisson Becker from AS Roma while Jack Butland and Jan Oblak are also on their radar. But Casillas will not only give Karius some much-needed guidance but can also help young Danny Ward to turn into a world beater in the future.
Klopp trusts Ward and has not sent him on loan this season. Karius will probably remain his first choice next season with Casillas given his chances in the domestic cups. This will not only solve Liverpool’s goalkeeping issues but will also make them stronger in the long run.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored