Tottenham must blow Liverpool out of the water to sign Iker Casillas this summer.
Hugo Lloris is undoubtedly one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League, but having a World Cup winner and a player of Casillas’ calibre in the dressing room can only be a positive.
Spanish outlet AS claim Liverpool are making moves to sign the experienced shot-stopper, but here are three reasons why Mauricio Pochettino should do everything in his power to sign him instead.
Serial winner
Casillas has won virtually everything in the game and Spurs need winners in their dressing room if they are to start challenging for titles. They arguably came up short in the title race both this season and last because of a lack of experience in the squad. Even if he is not playing, Casillas is a World Cup winner, a two-time European Championships winner and a three-time Champions League winner, the experience he could pass onto Tottenham’s young squad would be invaluable. He has also won five La Liga titles, so he knows how to win a league, which is Spurs’ next major goal.
Top pedigree
If Lloris is struggling for form, or is fatigued from the sheer amount of games Tottenham will play next season, Casillas can step in. He was once heralded as the best goalkeeper in the world, and although he is 36-years-old now, he is still playing regular football. This season he has been Porto’s number one and has made 43 appearances in all competitions. The appearances prove he still has the fitness to play regular football, but his 23 clean sheets prove he still has the all-important quality needed to play for a top club.
Weaken their rivals
Liverpool’s goalkeeping problem has been widely publicised, and while Simon Mignoelet has seen an upturn in form in the second half of the season – it is still an issue. If Spurs can beat the Reds to the signing of Casillas they will not only improve their own squad, but they will weaken the Merseyside club massively. Mignolet is a decent shot-stopper but he struggles to claim balls in his area, Casillas could not only take the number one jersey at Anfield, but he could also improve their current crop of goalkeepers – therefore it is crucial Pochettino beats Jurgen Klopp to his signature.