Asmir Begovic could be the answer to Arsenal’s long-running goalkeeping problems next season.
North London club step up interest in Stoke City’s highly-rated Bosnia international goalkeeper.
SOURCE: The Daily Mail
Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger has identified a list of potential goalkeeping targets to replace error-prone Polish duo Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski at the Emirates next season.
The Daily Mail article above lists Chelsea’s Petr Cech, Liverpool star Jose Manuel Reina and Asmir Begovic of Stoke City, though the Metro also links Real Madrid custodian Iker Casillas.
Transfers between Arsenal and any of Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid are rare, but an end-of-season approach for Stoke City custodian Asmir Begovic seems on paper much more likely to succeed.
The 26-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international could be a hugely useful asset, and would be a good bet to finally cure Arsenal’s long-standing goalkeeping dilemma. Though the Daily Mail suggest Stoke have an asking price of £15 million, Begovic could still prove good value over the course of the next few seasons.
The 6’5″ shot-stopper is calmness personified, and the number of mistakes that he has made since arriving in the Premier League at Portsmouth eight years ago could be counted on one hand.
Begovic’s distribution with the ball at his feet is also sound, he is adept at dealing with crosses, and – crucially, given Szczesny’s struggles in this department – the organisation of a defence is another strong point.
Whether Wenger is willing to part with such a sum of money to land Begovic is a different matter, but the long term benefits of the deal could be excellent for the Gunners.
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