Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has reportedly emerged as a shock option to replace Jasper Cillessen at Barcelona.
Spanish publication Marca are speculating the entry of another goalkeeper on Barcelona’s radar. Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has emerged as an option to replace Jasper Cillessen as the second-choice at Barcelona. The Dutchman has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Simon Mignolet propped up as a talented star during his stint at Sunderland. The Belgian stopper was soon snapped up by Liverpool to make him the new first-choice at Anfield. But, it has not panned out that way.
There is no denying the quality that Mignolet possesses. It is his uncanny trait to have a howler every now and then that has raised quite a few problems for Liverpool over recent seasons. Jurgen Klopp brought in Loris Karius. While the Belgian was able to fend off the new threat for a while, Karius seemed to have upsurged him on the pecking order at Liverpool.
If his status as a regular was already gone, he might not even be making the bench in the new season. Alisson Becker has arrived for a world record fee from AS Roma and is set to be the first-choice, pushing Karius to the bench. Mignolet was already linked with a move away from Liverpool and Alisson’s arrival seems to have seen the rumours catch wind.
The Belgian was linked with Napoli at one stage. But, it is Barcelona that are rumoured to be thinking of adding Mignolet to their squad. Jasper Cillessen is likely to leave the club, with Premier League the touted destination of the Dutchman. Barcelona need an able second-choice to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Assuming Mignolet is desperate to move and coupled with the fact that Liverpool may want to move the Belgian off their books, Barcelona might be able to replace Cillessen for cheap. And while Mignolet will not be handed much game time in the league, he can expect appearances in cup competitions a-la Cillessen.
A move can do wonders to a disgruntled but talented star. Wojciech Szczesny was a troubled figure at Arsenal despite his quality. The Polish stopper found a new home at AS Roma and has since reinvented himself, now becoming the first-choice at Juventus – the man to take over the reins from Gianluigi Buffon.
Mignolet could also establish himself as an able deputy to ter Stegen at Barcelona, which would ultimately open doors to a move to one of the other big clubs in the future, this time to be the first-choice. This is a deal that could see the light of the day, especially with Mignolet and Liverpool’s desire to part ways with each other.
