Rumour Mongering: Reds to Pay World Record Fee For Barcelona Benchwarmer

Liverpool need a new starting goalkeeper. Everybody seems to agree on that. Or at least everybody on the outside does, given there’s no way to know where Jürgen Klopp, Michael Edwards, and the rest of the recruitment team stand on the matter.

That absolutely everyone else seems in agreement, though, means that every half-decent, potentially available, or maybe just wanting out goalkeeper in Europe this summer is going to end up linked with a move to Anfield sooner or later.

Today, it’s Dutch international and Barcelona number two Jasper Cillessen being linked, a 29-year-old who went from Ajax starter to Barca benchwarmer in 2016 when Claudio Bravo departed for Manchester City to reunite with Pep Guardiola.

As all players tend to have an excess of self-belief, Cillessen thought he’d arrive at the Camp Nou and win the number one job away from Marc Andre ter Stegen, who had until then split time with Bravo. Instead, he’s been relegated to Copa del Rey duty.

In his two years in Spain he’s made two league starts, two European starts, and 17 domestic cup appearances. According to Mundo Deportivo, it’s a situation he now wants out of. And really, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if that’s in fact the case.

They further say that while no contact has been made between Liverpool and Barcelona, an agent with ties to the English club has informed them of interest. For Barca’s part, on the other hand, they claim there is no desire to sell Cillessen.

There is, however, a €60M buyout clause they think Barcelona wouldn’t be too upset if someone triggered—you know, to help pay for Antoine Griezmann. Which is mostly worth a laugh and shows this up as the ridiculous rumour it is.

Barcelona bought Cillessen for €15M. He’s been nailed to their bench. Nobody is paying his release—a world record fee for a goalkeeper—and at best he would arrive at Liverpool as competition for Karius. It’s a quite shockingly stupid rumour, really.

Still, it’s the summer. It’s transfer season. And everyone seems to agree Liverpool need a goalkeeper—which means every outlet on the continent is going to be trying to find a local angle and tie one to them.