Barcelona Reportedly Identify Alex Remiro as Jasper Cillessen Replacement

Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a move for Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Alex Remiro as Jasper Cillessen seems set to leave the club in the near future. 

According to Goal's Ignasi Oliva Gispert, the 23-year-old will be a free agent in 2019 and could be the perfect replacement for Cillessen, who has said he's up for a new challenge.

According to Roger Torello of Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo (h/t the Daily Star's Alex Wood), Cillessen tried to force his way out of the Camp Nou during the summer but a transfer never came to be.

The 29-year-old remains the Netherlands' top option in goal but is stuck behind Marc-Andre ter Stegen in Barcelona. He needs regular minutes to keep his spot for the national team and is widely expected to leave the club next summer.

Remiro has long been on the radar of scouts as the next top prospect to emerge from the Athletic academy. It was widely assumed he would take over from Kepa Arrizabalaga at some point, and the Spain international left the club for Chelsea in the summer.

Unai Simon has started every match for Bilbao in La Liga, however, with Bilbao keeping Remiro on the bench due to contract uncertainty, per Marca's Juanma Velasco. What may have started out as a tactic to force Remiro into renewing has instead highlighted the 21-year-old's talent, and he may now be their long-term answer at the position.

Remiro has spent time on loan at Levante and Huesca and has had limited opportunities to impress at the San Mames due to the presence of Arrizabalaga and Iago Herrerin. He has shown flashes, however:

As a free agent with long-term upside he could be a great value signing. He won't be expected to push Ter Stegen for the starting position and could learn from the Germany international while taking care of cup competitions.

Expect the Blaugrana to keep a close eye on his playing time and contract negotiations in the coming months.