Arsenal to sign Andre Onana on bargain summer transfer

Arsenal look set to secure their first signing of the summer transfer window with goalkeeper Andre Onana expected to move to north London from Ajax with his contract expiring in 2022.

Activity at Arsenal and it’s happening in the area of the pitch most thought would be the least necessary to tackle. Heading into a window where full-backs and midfielders of every variety were the primary subjects, in between the sticks is heating up.

What will Arsenal do with Bernd Leno? A few months ago he was being spoken about in the bracket of some of the Premier League’s, and Europe’s, finest only to embark on a exceedingly disappointing second half of the campaign.

Leno then openly admitted he may seek a new adventure elsewhere and multiple credible sources listed him as wanting to move on this summer. More work on top of an already outstanding amount of work.

Arsenal close to bargain Andre Onana summer transfer as Bernd Leno replacement

Backup goalkeeper Mat Ryan had a solid enough six month loan spell but there are concerns over his lack of homegrown status, while Alex Runarsson is so far off the standard required most had forgotten about him entirely.

Then links emerged to Andre Onana, a goalkeeper in a perilous position. Mistakenly consuming a banned substance that was in his girlfriend’s medication, he’s been banned from playing since February, not even allowed to train with his first team colleagues.

An appeal has been lodged to CAS to have it reduced, which if successful will see him be able to return sooner, and if that is rejected he will have to wait until next February. However, as per reliable Dutch outlet NOS, Arsenal will push through regardless.

It is ‘almost certain’ he will leave Ajax this summer having courted the interest of Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain with just 12 months left on his deal. However, Arsenal want to grant Onana the No. 1 jersey unlike the other two, which will seemingly have huge ramifications on Leno’s future.

Once the Cameroonian learns the extent of his CAS appeal, the transfer will move ‘quickly’ and the Gunners will secure their man. If his ban is reduced he will cost in the region of €6m-€9m (£5m-£8m) and if unsuccessful he will be sold for a mere €2m. Both fees are bargains for a ball-playing goalkeeper of this quality.

Ajax’s director of football affairs, Marc Overmars, has already bid farewell to Onana. But will Arsenal bid farewell to Leno?

Continued…

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.