Barcelona shortlist three replacements for Jasper Cillessen
Barcelona have shortlisted three replacements for Jasper Cillessen
Jasper Cillessen is considering a move away from Barcelona in January. The 28-year old Dutch goalkeeper is yet to play a single minute this season. He has already stated his intent of leaving the club if he permanently starts to play second-fiddle to Marc-André ter Stegen.
"Cillessen said, “I have not thought about listening to offers, I’m fine here. If I play very little, we will see in the winter transfer window, but for the moment I am not thinking about anything.”"
Club technical secretary Éric Abidal has already started looking into lower-profile replacements, and has shortlisted three potential targets. They will be economical, and the club would benefit from the operation due to the fact that Jasper Cillessen has significantly grown in value.
Abidal has shortlisted Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels, Cillessen’s compatriot Jeroen Zoet and Athletic second-choice goalie Álex Remiro. Casteels and Zoet are first-choice at their clubs but inexperienced at international level while Álex Remiro is a hot prospect.
Jeroen Zoet graduated from PSV Eindhoven’s youth academy in 2011, and spent two years on loan at RKC Waalwijk. He broke into the first-team under Phillip Cocu after returning from loan, and made his debut for the Dutch national team in 2015.
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Till date, Zoet has made 190 appearances for PSV Eindhoven. The 27-year old Dutch ‘keeper has strong reflexes, is particularly adept at saving close-range shots and rarely makes mistakes. He is also very good with his feet, which is a prerequisite for a Barça goalkeeper. He is a good option.
Álex Remiro hates his life at Athletic Bilbao. He spent two successive seasons on loan at Levante and Huesca after getting promoted to the first-team squad, but he was overlooked to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga after failing to agree a new contract.
His current deal expires at the end of the season, and he is languishing on the bench. Unai Simón has become established as the first-team goalkeeper, and he is looking for a way out of San Mamés. Barcelona could easily sign the 23-year old in January in a cut-price deal.
Koen Casteels is a very talented goalkeeper who couldn’t realise his potential before he joined Wolfsburg in 2015 after spending a year on loan at Werder Bremen. Now, the 26-year old Belgian ‘keeper is among the finest of his trade in the Bundesliga.
He is not expected to leave Wolfsburg for a spot on the bench. But if Éric Abidal manages to convince Casteels, he could join the side. Of the three players shortlisted by Abidal, Casteels would be the least expensive.
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But the main objective of the club should be to keep Jasper Cillessen, who is a top goalkeeper. Ernesto Valverde should look to give him some more playing time if it means that the former Ajax goalie stays at Barcelona.