By Tayo Amosu
October 16, 2014
After seemingly missing out on a chance to sign former Barcelona goal keeper, Victor Valdez, Liverpool are reportedly preparing an £8m bid to land Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, according to the Independent.
Liverpool was seriously linked to Victor Valdez the former Barcelona keeper but reports suggest that the deal fell through due to Valdez’s unwillingness to participate in a trial with the Reds.
Now, Brendan Rogers would move for Casilla, the 28-year-old stand out performer for Espanyol, with a fee reported to be around £8m.
Since the departure of Pepe Reina to Bayern Munich, Brendan Rogers had been in the market trying to sign another goalkeeper after signing current number one, Simon Mignolet, whose performance so far this season has been nothing to write home about.
28-year-old Kiko Casilla, has been in blistering form for his Spanish La Liga side this season and has also attracted interests from Spanish giants, Real Madrid despite just recently securing the services of Costa Rican goalkeeper, Keylor Navas from another La Liga side, Levante.
Casilla took over the responsibilities of being the shot stopper for Espanyol after understudying great goalkeepers like Cameroonian and former team mate, Idriss Carlos Kameni.
On the 29th of August, 2014, Casilla received his very first international call-up by the manager of the Spanish national side Vincente del Bosque.
He was included in the 23-man squad for matches against France and Macedonia last month, September, as third choice behind Real Madrid veteran goalkeeper, Iker Casillas and Manchester United’s young goalie, David de Gea.
The rise and rise of Casilla has no doubt reflected in this report of Liverpool’s interest in him.
Many other alternatives are very much available in the transfer market but the choice of Kiko Casilla by Liverpool is a pointer to the impressive showing this season for Espanyol.
Therefore, a loan move for the 28-year-old goalkeeper would make a whole lot of sense for a club like Liverpool, whose goal keeper, Simon Mignolet, is in a poor form at the moment.
It isn’t clear enough though whether Liverpool would sign Casilla on a permanent basis or just a loan deal as the Reds would want to sign the goalkeeper to mount a strong challenge and competition on Simon Mignolet, to probably bring out the best of the Liverpool’s first choice goalkeeper.
Casilla on his part may be sceptical about a move to Anfield as this would mean leaving his role as number in Espanyol to probably become a back-up to Mignolet at Liverpool.
This speculation of Liverpool’s interest in Kiko Casilla is coming at a very important time the in Spaniard’s career, when he has been called up by Spain.
A wrong decision now may mar his chances at ever featuring for Spain at an international competition.
The goalkeeper would expectedly ponder over the decision and may want to get guarantees of first team action from the Liverpool management, an assurance the Reds may be unwilling to give.
This may be necessary for the goalkeeper to ensure that his place in the national team is secured.
Liverpool undoubtedly is a bigger club than Espanyol and is more likely to pay the goalkeeper better, but these kinds of decisions are made with factors more important than club status and weekly wages.
