Liverpool are plotting a surprise move for FC Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas next summer. According to recent reports, FC Porto wants to part ways with the Spanish goalkeeper who is currently the second choice keeper at the club and their decision is mainly due to Financial Fair Play reasons as they can’t afford to pay his high wages. Casillas is likely to fancy a move to England’s top tier and is confident about his chances of having a go in Premier League football.
The 36-year-old keeper was given a rousing ovation by Liverpool supporters in their match versus Porto in their Champions League last-16 second leg clash, a few weeks ago. The Spaniard expressed his gratitude by making a post on social media after the match. His post contained a photo of him and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp acknowledging each other with the caption: “Respect Champions League. Never walk alone.”
FC Porto could be desperate to offload their keeper to try and avoid a Financial Fair Play penalty and it is believed that the Portuguese giants would be willing to part ways with the former World Cup winner this summer. Casillas was the skipper of the Spanish national team when they won the World Cup in 2010 and two European Championships in 2008 and 2012 respectively.
He has also won three European Cups and five La Liga titles with Real Madrid along with other major honours. There’s nothing else for the keeper to win expect a new adventure with potentially a big team in England.
The Reds are currently sitting in the 3rd position in the Premier League table after their emphatic 5-0 victory over Watford earlier this month. The Merseyside outfit find themselves just above Tottenham Hotspur, who are in fourth place with a two-point gap separating the two teams at the moment. However, the Reds are a staggering 18 points behind league leaders Manchester City going into the final stretch of the season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side has defensively leaked in some cheap goals during the course of this campaign. Liverpool’s goalkeeping duo of Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius has conceded 34 goals in 30 Premier League matches. The acquisition of Casillas might be a significant upgrade over the duo going into, what is expected to be another extremely competitive Premier League season, next term.
Casillas has featured in 24 matches for FC Porto this season, conceding 14 goals and keeping 15 clean sheets. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of the Spaniard and whether Liverpool ends up making a move for his signature this summer.
