Arsenal to sign Andre Onana on bargain summer transfer

Will Arsenal Sell Bernd Leno After Andre Onana Signing

NOS is a trusted outlet with very close ties to Ajax, so while this deal is far from wrapped up, there is a very strong chance it is completed this summer. Another reliable source, Goal, previously mentioned the interest.

Arsenal will be waiting in anticipation over what the outcome of Onana’s CAS appeal is. They will naturally be hoping for a reduced sentence, in which case the goalkeeper can be available to come in as No. 1 and begin training in June, two months before he can start playing. This being a move that would surely spell the end for someone else.

If Leno wants to leave then let him. There is no room in this squad for passengers and any player who doesn’t have their heart in the team is not part of the rebuild. What is interesting, however, is Arsenal’s determination to land a young, developing goalkeeper who classifies as homegrown.

The Athletic made this point very clear and Brentford’s victory over Swansea in the Championship play-off final ensured David Raya no longer became a viable option. Freddie Woodman could be pursued, but all we’ve heard so far is just interest.

With the way this is heading, neither Mat Ryan nor Leno look set to be at the club, and if so a buyer must have been found for the latter already. However, if the ban is upheld, work will need to be done to have someone in place to at least play until February, when the 12 months will be up. If it’s kept in place, then Ryan could be signed for a further six months. Lots of maybe’s.

It appears as if the goalkeeping situation is becoming ever more troublesome, more so than simply selling one, re-signing the other and buying a young one. Nothing is ever that simple.

Arsenal are heading towards an overhaul of their goalkeeping department unless they ease of their desires for a homegrown backup and sign Ryan down for a full season or longer. An unprecedented amount of work will never be completed in one international tournament-impacted summer, thus this could be a step taken next season.

As it is, though, Arsenal appear to be signing a goalkeeper. A very good one too, even if he hasn’t kicked a competitive ball since February. This club never does things the easy way.