Rumoured Liverpool Target Cillessen Wants out of Barcelona

The idea that Liverpool might spend €60M on Barcelona’s backup ‘keeper, a 29-year-old they signed two years ago for €15M and who has since made four appearances outside the Copa del Rey is, well, dumb. Really, really dumb.

The idea that Jasper Cillessen might want out at Barcelona, on the other hand, is far less dumb. That he last played regularly two seasons ago for Ajax makes it hard to say just how good he is now, but he is too good to be a backup.

“It’s clear that I want to play more and I have also indicated it several times,” was Cillessen’s response today when Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad asked him about his Barcelona future and rumours in the Spanish press of Liverpool interest.

Barcelona, though, have indicated they aren’t looking to sell, which is what led to the recent rumours in Mundo Deportivo of Liverpool considering paying his €60M release clause and setting a new record for highest fee paid for a goalkeeper.

That isn’t going to happen. If Cillessen is willing to push to get himself a move, though, and if Liverpool don’t have the funds to sign a clear number one—a stopper of the calibre of Jan Oblak or Alisson—then, just maybe, a deal could be done.

For €25M or so, a profit reflecting the rising market since Barcelona bought Cillessen to sit behind Ter Stegen on their bench, Liverpool just might consider bringing the former Ajax man in to compete with Loris Karius for the starting gig.

Right now, though, there’s nothing to suggest anything like that might happen—no solid evidence of Liverpool interest, and no suggestion Barcelona are willing to sell, either. But if Cillessen wants out badly enough, anything is possible.

“Barcelona have indicated that they want to keep me,” he added. “I can jump up and down but the ball is in the club’s court. I am waiting and the club know my stance. I have had a great time but I want to play.”