Real Madrid Transfer Rumors & News 2014-15: Will Iker Casillas Head to Liverpool?
Could Iker Casillas make a move to join Liverpool in coming months?
According to Metro, the English side is desperate to fix its goaltending situation and could look to Spain's iconic keeper to solve its problems.
Liverpool was terrific in 2013-14 and a great deal of that success was a result of the goaltending of Simon Mignolet. But things have not gone as swimmingly for the team in 2014-15, with the netminder behind a series of costly mistakes that are hurting the team in the early going. The Reds have won just three of their first seven and have lost three, conceding a total of 10 goals in seven matches. Mignolet has only managed one clean sheet in that span.
His biggest gaffe of the year came in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League. The team was fortunate to win that game, but Mignolet could have cost his club two crucial points.
He has not looked confident with the ball on his feet this season and there are a lot of rumblings that the club has been looking for a quick replacement. Victor Valdes was the name going around the rumor mill, but there seem to be some issues with his signing.
So Casillas is now the man of the hour.
Everyone knows that Real Madrid's starter has fallen out of favor. Even though he gets the starts with manager Carlo Ancelotti, there are many that feel that Keylor Navas should be the main man in Spain's capital. Moreover, Casillas' latest gaffe in European qualifying has seemingly cost him his spot as Spain's undisputed No.1 keeper. Now that rumors about Real Madrid's interest in David De Gea are growing, it seems that Casillas' days are numbered.
But is the Móstoles, Spain-born Casillas a good keeper to bring to Liverpool?
The Premier League is for keepers who are not only good shot stoppers, as Casillas is supposed to be, but also netminders with physical prowess and aerial dominance. Casillas has neither. He relies heavily on his speed and reflexes to make awe-inspiring saves, but he has never been a behemoth in the air. Not only is he not a tall keeper, but he has always, even at his best, looked uncomfortable leaving his line to challenge crosses into his box. What has resulted is that other teams can take advantage of aerial threats. In the past, Casillas' reflexes would bail his team out. But now that he is losing that speed, it is becoming easier to score on him. The Champions League final is a perfect example of his insecurity in the air. Casillas came out to challenge an aerial ball, but he mistimed it, failed to commit fully and wound up caught in no-man's land. And it almost cost Madrid the title.
His play with the ball on his feet has not been great, either. He had the memorable gaffe in the World Cup against the Dutch, but he also looked nervous in the recent game against Slovakia in the European qualifiers.
This might be a desperation move for Liverpool. And it could wind up failing. Or it might be the kind of environment Casillas needs to regain his form. At 33, he should be in his prime and the pressure he is likely feeling in Madrid and on the international stage is probably hurting his confidence. Playing in a new setting with adoring fans could help him return to form, and by extension, help Liverpool.
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