Barcelona : Arsenal and Liverpool exit race for Cillessen’s signature

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 20: Jasper Cillessen of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou on May 20, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 20: Jasper Cillessen of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou on May 20, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Arsenal and Liverpool have pulled out of the race for Cillessen’s signature

SPAIN – FEBRUARY 01: Jasper Cillessen of Barca reacts during the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg match between Barca and Valencia CF at Camp Nou on February 1, 2018 in Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
SPAIN – FEBRUARY 01: Jasper Cillessen of Barca reacts during the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg match between Barca and Valencia CF at Camp Nou on February 1, 2018 in Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

At one point in time, Liverpool and Arsenal were the frontrunners for Barcelona backup goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen’s signature. The Reds wanted a replacement for error-prone Loris Karius, while the Gunners wanted a successor to veteran ‘keeper Petr Čech.

But Arsenal have signed Bernd Leno to succeed Čech, while Jürgen Klopp is looking at other options to replace Karius, most notably Roma goalie Alisson. They have pulled out of the race for Jasper Cillessen’s signature.

More from Everything Barca

On the other hand, Barcelona have put a price tag of €30 million on Cillessen. The 29-year old Dutchman was signed from Ajax for €12 million two seasons ago, and receiving €30 million would be a very good return for the investment.

There are still other clubs who are interested in sign Cillessen. Napoli want him as replacement for Pepe Reina, who has joined Milan while Chelsea have shortlisted him as an emergency signing in case Thibaut Courtois leaves for Real Madrid.

The club has even started scouting replacements for Cillessen. The priority for the management would be Real Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adán, who wants to leave the Andalusian club after they signed former Espanyol shot-stopper Pau López.

Next: Barça should snap up Gelson Martins on a free transfer

Ever since moving to Betis from Real Madrid, Adán has performed well on a consistent basis. His style of play does not really suit the club, but he still might be a good fit due to his brilliant reflexes. If Jasper Cillessen leaves, Antonio Adán may turn out to be the next Claudio Bravo.