If Jordan Pickford thinks he’s having a difficult season, spare a thought for Jasper Cillessen.
In September, as Carlo Ancelotti’s trust wavered in his increasingly erratic England international, Everton identified a former Barcelona and Ajax glovesman as Pickford’s potential replacement (Marca).
The links disappeared as quickly as they emerged, however, as Valencia – yes, a cash-strapped Valencia forced to sell most of their stars to stave off financial ruin – demanded a staggering £32 million for a goalkeeper who hadn’t exactly set the world alight at the Mestalla.
Who could blame Everton, then, for turning instead to the affordable alternative that was experienced Roma loanee Robin Olsen?
Pound for pound, there’s no doubt who represents the more astute addition.
But while Valencia managed to find a buyer for Ferran Torres, Dani Parejo, Francois Coquelin and, most recently, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Cillessen remains one of the highest paid and highest profile players on their books.
However, you sense if Los Che could turn back the clock they’d have been a bit less greedy when it came to Cillessen’s price tag.
The 31-year-old Dutchman has fallen behind the impressive Jaume Domenech in Javi Gracia’s pecking order, failing to start a single La Liga game in 2020/21.
His spell out of the XI isn’t going to end any time soon either.
Because, as Marca has pointed out, Cillessen is facing up to four months on the sidelines with a serious leg injury having undergone surgery on Wednesday.
To say that’s a massive blow for the Nijmegen-born ace, who was already fighting to hold on to his starting place with the Dutch national team, is an understatement.
While Pickford can do no wrong in the eyes of England boss Gareth Southgate, Cillessen’s place as Holland’s number one ahead of next summer’s European Championships is more uncertain than ever.
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