Scouting Manchester City Transfer Target Iker Caslillas

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Manchester City’s goalkeeper situation is rather precarious at the moment. Joe Hart, once the first name on the teamsheet and widely seen as one of the finest young goalkeepers in Europe, has been dropped after an incredible loss of form over the past 12 months, and his replacement, Costel Pantilimon, has failed to fully convince.

It’s highly likely, given their aspirations, that the club are lining up a move for a goalkeeper, either in January or the summer.

Speaking on Sky’s Revista de la Liga programme earlier this week, my Bleacher Report colleague Guillem Balague spoke at length about Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas—a world-class 'keeper currently marginalised at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti.

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Casillas was dropped by Jose Mourinho last season and replaced by Diego Lopez, who remains their undisputed No. 1, leaving Casillas, one of the finest goalkeepers ever to play the game, in the bizarre situation of only starting Champions League games. He's yet to play in La Liga at all this season.

Balague believes Casillas is becoming increasingly disillusioned with life at Madrid and could seek a move away, with City known to be interested.
He said:

Manchester City definitely want Iker Casillas for next season. He's known about it for a while, but they are not the only team that are after Iker Casillas.

It will be up to him what he does next, obviously. But if he continues to not play, and he won't unless Diego Lopez gets injured, then he wants to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.
He's had enough and he's imagining the possibility of playing abroad. Although he loves the Premier League, maybe it doesn't suit his game as much as the Italian league or the German league.
But he's going to have offers and if he continues like this, he will leave Real Madrid.

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Casillas is one of the best goalkeepers in world football, so it's hardly surprising City have made their interest known given Hart's woes. There's barely a flaw in Casillas' game, with his distribution, handling and shot-stopping all second-to-none.

He has over 150 caps for Spain, has won the World Cup, two European Championships, two Champions Leagues and five La Liga titles. It's a remarkable record for a man who made his Real Madrid debut in 1999 as an 18-year-old and who became the youngest ever goalkeeper to play in a Champions League final aged 19.

But if Joe Hart can return to form, do City need him?
It would make sense from City's perspective to sign Julio Cesar on a six-month contract in January, before making a long-term assessment about Hart's future at the end of the season.

As per the Daily Star, Cesar is available on a free transfer from Queens Park Rangers, and he has a point to prove ahead of this summer's World Cup where he wants to be Brazil's No. 1. His presence would strengthen City for the rest of this season and may help Hart rediscover his best.

It's a move which would give City time to consider the future of Hart and if come the end of the season the club feel he is unlikely to recover his form of old, then a move for Casillas, or a player of that ilk, would be sensible.
Casillas may be 32, but he has the ability to go on for a number of years yet.