Liverpool: Is Jasper Cillessen an able deputy to Alisson Becker?

REUTERS/Craig Brough

A goalkeeper has been a priority signing for Liverpool for a number of years, accentuated by Loris Karius effectively ending his Anfield career with two high profile errors in the highest profile game of them all.

The German was at fault for Karim Benzema's opener, as well as Gareth Bale's second, essentially handing the Champions League to Real Madrid, despite a battling performance from the Reds.

Liverpool's pursuit of Alisson Becker has been well-documented thus far this summer, but reports suggest that Jurgen Klopp will turn his attention to Barcelona's Jasper Cillessen if Roma price them out of a move for the highly coveted Brazilian.

Priced out

Whilst Liverpool are often fairly big-spenders in the transfer market, a move for Alisson Becker would require a fee comfortably surpassing the then world record £35 million Manchester City paid for Ederson, Alisson's compatriot.

Cillessen, by contrast, is a cheaper option. He has a €50 million release clause in his Barcelona contract, but Los Cules are reportedly willing to let him go for around £25 million.

Any more, however, and the deal becomes unfeasible.

This is because Cillessen has barely featured in La Liga for the Spanish champions, appearing just twice since his move in 2016. This, however, is largely due to the form of number one Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Cillessen in focus

The Dutchman, though, has been reliable when called upon, however rarely.

Cillessen has been practically faultless in two successful Copa del Rey campaigns, keeping nine clean sheets in 17 games, seven of which came in 2017/18.

In that time, moreover, Cillessen conceded just nine goals, at a rate of 0.53 per game.

The 29-year-old, too, is fast off his line and decent with his feet, fitting the profile of what Klopp desires in his 'keepers.

A considerable upgrade

As per most transfers, the issue arises with Cillessen's fee. Anymore than the purported £25 million -which could well rise given Arsenal and Chelsea's interest in the 'keeper alongside Liverpool's- and the move becomes nonsensical.

Quite simply, Cillessen -a back-up- isn't a goalkeeper worth a world record fee.

Moreover, if Liverpool were to spend that sort of money on one player, said player needs to be a considerable upgrade on current options, which Cillessen isn't.

The Reds need to be looking towards the future -with a number one that has significant longevity-, especially for the supposed fee, as well as one able to underpin a charge for the Premier League and Champions League crowns, which Cillessen cannot do.