'Agreement ready' - Arsenal 'set sights' on £11m Real Madrid outcast
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Arsenal are turning their attention to a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window with the latest reports indicating that they have set their sights on Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin.
Last summer, Mikel Arteta brought David Raya into the mix on loan from Brentford and while the party line indicated Aaron Ramsdale and the Spanish glovesman would share the responsibility of being ‘number one’, this quickly evaporated with the England international making just six Premier League appearances in the 2023/24 campaign.
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Hide AdRaya went on to win the Golden Glove, keeping 15 clean sheets in 30 Premier League matches, and ensured a Champions League round of 16 penalty shoot-out win over Porto. Ramsdale is thus highly unlikely to be handed anymore game time in the coming season at the Emirates and is consequently looking for a club this summer that can provide him with more consistent minutes on the pitch.
With the summer transfer window now open, the Gunners will look to see who they can bring in as a backup keeper and claims from Spain have reported the club are interested in the 25-year-old Ukrainian international.
Real Madrid’s number one keeper Thibaut Courtois has been absent since last August after he tore his meniscus and Lunin has deputised exceptionally well, helping Carlo Ancelotti’s side to La Liga and Champions League glory.
However, prior to the Champions League final, in which Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley and Courtois was named in goal, Ancelotti made it clear that the Belgian goalkeeper would continue to be the number one going forward. Reports from Mundo indicate this did not sit well in Lunin’s camp.
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Hide AdLunin’s contract with the Spanish giants expires in 2025. Reports from Cope say that Real Madrid have offered him a new deal which could see him remain at the side until 2029. But, with the return of Courtois to the number one spot imminent, the stopper feels Ancelotti does not trust him completely, and Lunin remains concerned to commit his future to his current club.
The report continues by suggesting the Ukrainian’s camp do not favour him remaining in the Spanish capital for the long term and Arsenal are mentioned as a 2024/25 possibility. Further reports from Mundo Deportivo continue by adding that the Gunners have been following Lunin’s situation closely and say Arteta will ‘try to sign’ Lunin if ‘he’s within reach’.
The 25-year-old keeper - who has 12 international appearances for Ukraine - has been with Real Madrid since 2018, signing with the club for a deal worth around £11m. However, with the latest rift between himself and Ancelotti emerging, Arsenal appear ready to pounce with football365 even suggesting an ‘agreement is ready’ as the Ukrainian looks to ‘escape’ the Bernabeu.
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