13:53h CEST

Sevilla are in the market for a new keeper after Sergio Rico moved to Fulham on loan on Premier League deadline day and are weighing up a bid for Real Madrid stopper Kiko Casilla.

Casilla rejoined Madrid in 2015 after several seasons at Espanyol and has served as Keylor Navas’ number two over the past three seasons but the 31-year-old finds himself surplus to requirements for 2018-19 following the summer arrivals of Thibaut Courtois and 19-year-old Ukraine international Andriy Lunin at the Bernabéu.

Sevilla short of stoppers after Soria, Rico departures

While Real now have a glut of five keepers on the books, including Luca Zidane, who is increasingly likely to leave before August 31, Sevilla have been left with just two after allowing Rico to depart and selling David Soria to Getafe: number one Tomas Vaclik and 20-year-old youth team keeper Juan Soriano, who has been promoted to the seniors for 2018-19.

For Sevilla that represents a huge risk as they embark on a potential three-front season (Liga, Copa del Rey and Europa League, if they qualify). Sporting director Joaquín Caparrós has identified Casilla as an experienced replacement for Rico.

Sevilla were interested in signing Casilla when he was still at Espanyol but the opportunity to return to the Bernabéu, where he started his career, served to thwart Sevilla’s approach.