Real Madrid have reportedly offered Spanish international goalkeeper Kiko Casilla to Newcastle United ahead of the January transfer window.
With Real Madrid increasingly confident of signing Athletic Bilbao’s Spain Under-21 ‘keeper Kepa in the January transfer window, The Mail is reporting that the La Liga champions are offering Newcastle United the chance to sign Kiko Casilla.
Newcastle have wanted to strengthen their goalkeeping options for some time so this could be seen as the perfect opportunity. Casilla is a Spanish international shot-stopper who manager Rafa Benitez knows well. It was he who brought Casilla to the Bernabau from Espanyol during his short-lived spell in charge of Madrid back in 2015, after all.
And with the report adding that the 31-year-old may even be allowed to leave on a free, this may be seen as an opportunity too good to pass down for a Newcastle side who remain a little strapped for cash as long as Mike Ashley remains at the helm.
But it’s worth considering why Real Madrid would let Casilla leave for nothing with his contract not due to expire until 2020. In truth, Casilla has never really looked like making the grade in the Spanish capital, failing to provide a realistic threat to first-choice Keylor Navas between the sticks.
And while he has had an opportunity to impress this season with Navas on the sidelines, he hardly seized his chance. Casilla’s dreadful error in the nervy 3-2 win at home to Malaga recently, spilling a Chory Castro effort into his own net, was the latest example of shoddy goalkeeping from the understudy in recent weeks.
Therefore, while looking like a no brainer on paper, Newcastle fans should view Casilla with a bit of suspicion.
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