Liverpool fans were greeted with a story about their club looking at one of the most decorated shot-stoppers in world football, just days after they stepped into the Champions League for the first time in three years.
The Reds are now linked with former Real Madrid great Iker Casillas for a move this summer. The Spanish hero has won five Spanish titles, three Champions Leagues, two European Championships and the World Cup and Jurgen Klopp reportedly wants him to help Liverpool in their second UCL journey in the last seven years.
Currently playing for Portuguese club FC Porto, Casillas has been in impeccable form, keeping 23 clean sheets in all competitions this season, letting in just 23 goals. Even at 36, he is an upgrade on the current crop of players at Liverpool for this position.
Loris Karius signed for the club just last summer and will take time to be the first choice under Klopp as Belgian star Simon Mignolet has taken the competition seriously and put in some solid performances at the back. He was the most error prone player in three seasons before the previous one but he has been excellent and has helped Liverpool to the 4th place in the points table.
However, Liverpool fans have their own doubts on his ability to perform that way on the biggest stage in Europe making this link to Casillas all the more exciting. Standing as one of the best in that position in recent times, Casillas is a respected keeper and is a genuinely productive addition even if he does not don the gloves for Liverpool for a single game.
His expertise and the tips he can give to the Liverpool squad are in itself worth his wages and coming on a free, this deal might turn out to be one of the best ones for Liverpool in recent times.
Alex Manninger, the current senior keeper in the squad, has had his effect on Mignolet and Casillas can only make it better. However, if Klopp decides to use him for the Champions League games, using Mignolet for the league games, Loris Karius might find game time hard to come by and might also be sent out on loan.
It is hard to see Casillas sit on the bench the entire season and even harder to see him win trophies for the Anfield outfit with the current defensive line in front of him. So even after signing Casillas, Liverpool need to improve other areas of the squad if they want to bring the glory days back to the Merseyside.
