Newcastle United have an interest in Real Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, according to Calcio Mercato.
The Italian outlet claim that the European champions will lose the shot-stopper in January, with the Magpies the most likely destination for the 32-year-old.
The report claims that Casilla, a three-time Champions League winner, himself wants a move to Newcastle.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez signed Casilla for Madrid from Espanyol when he was in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2015, with the Spaniard going on to win trophies aplenty in the Spanish capital.
Benitez’s side are well-stocked between the sticks at present, with first choice Martin Dubravka backed up by Karl Darlow, Freddie Woodman and Rob Elliot.
OPINION
This is an interesting one, because the goalkeeper position isn’t one where you’d think Newcastle particularly need strengthening. Aside from the centre of defence it is arguably their most jam-packed position on the pitch, with Dubravka capably backed up by some decent ‘keepers. It would stand to reason, of course, that some of those stoppers would leave the club in the future due to a lack of first team football, but January seems like rather a strange time to bring Casilla in. Wouldn’t the summer, once Darlow or Elliot potentially depart, be a better time to sign him? It’s not like he’s suddenly going to go up the Bernabeu pecking order with Thibaut Courtois and Keylor Navas in front of him. Even if the club were to sign Casilla, where does he fit in? Dubravka has been excellent ever since he signed for the Magpies so surely Casilla wouldn’t be a replacement for him? In that case why would the Spaniard swap one substitutes bench for another? This seems like a move best avoided.