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A report surfaced this week in Marca that Barcelona number two Jasper Cillessen is on the way out, in hopes of getting first team football. The report also mentions that the Spanish giants have identified none other than Simon Mignolet as their ideal replacement.
With the arrival of Alisson Becker this week, the Belgian International’s days at Anfield are numbered. With Danny Ward already departing this week to Leicester, and Loris Karius’ value being at an all time low, it makes sense that the 30 year old shot stopper would seek a move away from Liverpool.
With having Marc-Andrew ter Stegen as their No. 1, Barcelona don’t necessarily need a world beater to come in and warm the bench. Maybe they seem impressed with Mignolet’s ability to be a reliable backup to Thibaut Courtois for Belgium. Or maybe Phil Coutinho wants another former teammate to join him in Spain.
The report also mentions that Barcelona are targeting fellow Belgian keeper Koen Casteels, Swiss international Yann Sommer, Geronimo Rulli, and Marko Dmitrovic.
Furthermore, Mignolet’s agent, Nico Vaesen, has confirmed that he’s looking for a solution for the keeper’s lack of game time at Anfield, but insists that staying in Liverpool is an option. Vaesen, in an interview with Walfoot, suggests that the arrival of Alisson has no impact on Mignolet’s future.
“It doesn’t change the situation [Alisson’s arrival]. Our goal is to find a solution for Simon to play and Alisson’s arrival doesn’t change that.” Vaesen said. “We know that a player of €60-70million won’t find himself on the bench. We are looking at the situation and looking for a solution to his playing time. There are options, the next few days will be decisive.”
It is unlikely that Mignolet would enjoy being the number 3 option for Klopp, and it’s even more unlikely that there’s a team willing to take a chance on Karius, given his recent blunders. But a move to Barcelona would be very, very weird. We shall see in the coming days, as alluded to by Mignolet’s agent.