The transfer window is nearly here! So the rumours are back and we will be covering it all at Fresh Arsenal. Here’s the first of a potentially long list…
Arsenal are considering a move for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, according to Goal. The 23-year-old has a €100million release clause though, and the Spanish club are believed to be only willing to sell should a club meet that clause.
It might seem like a lot of money, and I’m not going to pretend for one second that it isn’t, but aged just 23, Oblak has a big future. He has at least 10 years left at the very top, so you can see why Atletico value him so highly.
Arsenal’s current goalkeeping options include Petr Cech (35 in May), David Ospina and Emiliano Martinez. When Cech eventually retires, potentially this summer or the following summer, then it is very possible that the Gunners will be searching for a new long term goalkeeper. They missed out on the likes of David de Gea and Hugo Lloris and now Oblak looks like the next top class young goalkeeper in Europe.
I’m sure if Cech is considering retirement in the near future then Arsenal will already be sounding out their options and it only makes sense due to his age and quality, that Oblak is on the list of potential replacements.
Despite being 23, he is definitely amongst the best goalkeepers in Europe already and would be a world class addition to the squad. It would also help the Gunners solve their goalkeeping problem in the long term, Cech was merely a short term fix.
The Mirror have had this to say on the story: “While much his made of Wenger’s fine footballing philosophy, between the sticks he just wants a man who can keep it out. Oblak could be that man as Arsenal begin to look at replacing Cech, 34, in the next 18 months.”
I think this is one worth keeping an eye on. It definitely won’t happen in January, but with Cech getting older and Diego Simeone potentially leaving Atletico in the near future, it could increase the possibility of this one happening.