Liverpool Downgrade Their Goalkeeper Expectations

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Liverpool’s search for a new goalkeeper has taken them from Rome to Madrid and now to Barcelona. Their latest target is Jasper Cillessen, Barcelona’s second-choice goalkeeper, according to talkSPORT.

The Reds 3 – 1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Kyiv came about due to two goalkeeping errors by Loris Karius. In a pre-season friendly at Tranmere, another goalkeeping mistake led to a goal for the home side and derision from a Liverpool-supporting Rovers player.

Cillessen found himself reduced to a bit-part player at the Camp Nou with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen becoming the first-choice goalkeeper. It’s left the 29-year-old Netherlands international to make 21 appearances for the Blaugrana, predominantly in the Copa Del Rey.

Formerly of Ajax, Cillessen gained worldwide attention when Louis Van Gaal substituted him for Tim Krull in the Netherlands 2014 World Cup quarter-final against Costa Rica. The Dutch won and Cillessen, despite being their first-choice goalkeeper and starting every game at the tournament, is best remembered for that incident.

According to the Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the Dutchman is willing to listen to Liverpool’s offer. He is also content to stay at Barcelona, remaining their cup goalkeeper and warming the Camp Nou benches for other more important matches.

Chelsea are monitoring the situation in the event Real Madrid lure Thibaut Courtois to the Bernabeu this summer.