According a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool have made a move for Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. The 29-year-old has struggled for first team football ever since moving to the Nou Camp back in 2016, with the Netherlands international appearing just twice in La Liga and 21 times overall for Ernesto Valverde’s men in the last two years.

Yet Jurgen Klopp’s men are reportedly keen on luring the £18 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt) to Anfield this summer, and while he is likely to be an upgrade on Loris Karius, it’s unlikely that his addition would help the Reds bridge the gap to champions Manchester City.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the Citizens were cut above every side in the Premier League last season in eventually finishing the campaign with 100 points from their 38 league games, ending up 19 points clear of nearest rivals Manchester United, and 25 clear of Klopp's Liverpool.

Thus, it will take something pretty special from their challengers to bridge the gap to Pep Guardiola's side this season, although Liverpool would surely do just that with the addition of a top-quality goalkeeper.

Clearly, the goalkeeping ranks have been something of a problem area at Liverpool for a few years now giving the misfortunes of Karius and indeed Simon Mignolet, with neither doing enough to convince of their capabilities between the sticks.

Arguably, it was Karius who cost the Reds the Champions League title given his shocking performance in the final against Real Madrid back in May, while between Karius and Mignolet, they probably cost the Merseyside giants some points during the Premier League season as well.

And while Cillessen’s arrival would be a sensible choice as an upgrade on Karius, it wouldn’t be a big enough upgrade to bridge the hefty 25-point gap to Guardiola’s City, who are sure to continuing improving heading into the 2018/19 season after making their intentions clear with an outstanding season last time round.

Clearly, there will be question marks over the 29-year-old given he has been the number one choice in just three of his last seven seasons as a professional, to the point that he has managed only 21 appearances for Barca in the last two years.

Thus, that is a remarkably little amount of football for someone Klopp will hope can produce the goods in over 50 games for Liverpool this season, but significantly the Dutchman simply hasn’t shown the same level of performance as the world class keepers currently in the Premier League.

The likes of Thibaut Courtois, David De Gea, and Ederson have all produced the goods regularly during their respective spells in English football to underline their status’ as some of the best goalkeepers on the planet, from which they have certainly won their team points and indeed matches during the spells at Chelsea, Manchester United, and City respectively.

Yet there has been very little to suggest that Cillessen is indeed of that same standard, so while he is likely to an upgrade on current number one Karius, he probably won’t be that world class goalkeeper Liverpool are in need of in their quest to reel City in this season.

Liverpool fans… what do you think? Let us know!