The Gunners are keen on Casilla from Espanyol.
Now Arsenal have decided they want to spend money this transfer window, two-and-a-half months after everybody else, the club are touting Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, reports El Mundo Deportivo.
There have been question marks over the man between the sticks at the Emirates Stadium ever since Jens Lehmann retired in 2011.
Currently Wojniech Szczezny is the No.1 in north London, but both Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone were utlised last year as manager Arsene Wenger showed the lack of faith in the Poland international.
The Gunners have sold Mannone to Sunderland and have been looking into the possibility of buying Vicente Guita from Valencia – although the Spanish club laughed off their initial offer.
Casilla is now the primary target for Wenger, with the 26-year-old impressing in Catalonia last term having emerged as the La Liga’s side’s No.1 choice two seasons ago.
The Spaniard has a release clause of €20m but it’s unlikely Arsenal would have to pay anywhere near that price for the ‘keeper.
It’s said that the Gunners are also considering Stoke City ace Asmir Begovic, but the Bosnian is likely to cost a lot more than Casilla and Wenger wants to keep money aside for further signings.
The stopper is contracted at Esapnyol until 2015 but could easily have his head turned by the lure of the Emirates Stadium and Champions League football.
Fans in north London will be hoping Casilla is more like near namesake Iker Casillas however and not the club’s last Spanish ‘keeper – Manuel Almunia.
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