Barcelona are reportedly willing to part ways with Jasper Cillessen and are eyeing a move to make Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels his replacement.
According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are preparing for life without their second-choice goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. The keeper is on the radar of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and several other clubs. And the Catalans are ready to let the player go and are in turn targetting Wolfsburg stopper Koen Casteels as his replacement.
Jasper Cillessen has been unable to make much of a dent in the first-choice authority established by Marc-Andre ter Stegen at Barcelona. With the Dutchman growing frustrated at a lack of opportunities, the player is seeking a move elsewhere in order to become a first-choice again.
There are no dearth of suitors, with Arsenal and Liverpool both having a current vacancy in the said position. Chelsea, too, might potentially have the spot up for grabs should Thibaut Courtois depart in the summer, an event that is more likely to happen than not, based on current reports.
Barcelona, too, are prepared to listen to offers for Cillessen and will use the money to invest in other areas along with a replacement for the Dutchman. The Catalans seem to have zeroed in on the new deputy to ter Stegen, with Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels in the rearview mirror of the club.
The 25-year-old is yet to dip his toes on the international circuit, despite being called up to the national squad. And despite the not-so-appealing statistics in the 2017-18 season wherein Wolfsburg struggled (8 clean sheets in the league and 48 conceded), Casteels has often been the saviour with his shot-stopping ability and reflexes.
Casteels has grown into one of the best goalkeepers in Bundesliga and will surely be on the radar of top clubs across Europe. But, the proposition of Barcelona could be appealing to the Belgian. The stopper will be looking to add to his trophies and a chance to represent a club as iconic as Barcelona is an opportunity a player seldom receives.
MD:
Barcelona are watching Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels (25) – in-case Cillessen leaves the club. Scouts have given positive reports on the Belgian.Other alternatives:
– Timo Horn (25)
– Jiří Pavlenka (26) pic.twitter.com/37R7DmJ3uh— ᵁᴸᵀᴿᴬ® ⑩ (@UltraAutistic) June 10, 2018
Casteels will be aware that he will have restricted game time at Barcelona. But, he could be looking to pull a Jasper Cillessen – stay for a couple of years, collect trophies and experience and then seek a move to become a first-choice keeper at a top European club.
Reportedly, there has been some movement already as regards the transfer and it would not be a surprise to see Casteels playing for Barcelona in the upcoming season.
