Arsenal Ready To Hijack Liverpool’s Attempts To Sign £40m International Star

The January transfer window in now closed so it’s time to look at those deals that didn’t get over the line and those being lined-up for the summer. Today, Arsenal have joined Liverpool in the race to sign Jack Butland…

Arsenal are ready to hijack Liverpool’s attempts to sign Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland in a deal worth around £40m this summer, according to a report in the Mirror.

Butland made his name at Birmingham City having progressed through their youth ranks and has developed in to one of the best young keepers in Europe since joining Stoke in January 2013.

The 24-year-old is now a firm fixture in Mark Hughes’ starting eleven while he’s also established himself as a regular in the England national team ahead of the World Cup finals in Russia.

Butland has been a long-term target for Liverpool and it looks like Jurgen Klopp has stepped up his efforts to sign the 6ft 5″ stopper as he tries to bring in a new reliable number one.

Simon Mignolet has once again lost the first team shirt at Anfield but Loris Karius has also failed to convince between the sticks so Liverpool desperately need a top class keeper in the summer if they’re to be genuine title contenders.

Liverpool have been linked with a number of goalkeepers in recent weeks but the Mirror claims the Merseysiders are already making efforts to sign Butland in a deal worth up to £40m this summer.

However, Liverpool will now face stiff competition as the newspaper is citing a report from The Sun that says Arsenal have now joined the race to sign Butland at the end of the season.

Arsene Wenger is also in the market for a new keeper as David Ospina is expected to leave this summer while Petr Cech is coming to the end of his career with the Czech legend turning 36 in May.

A long-term replacement is needed and the report says the Gunners have identified Butland as a key target so they are ready to battle-it-out with Liverpool over his signature this summer.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

We’ll have to wait and see how things progress over the coming months but I think Butland would be an excellent signing for Arsenal or Liverpool if either club could get a deal agreed.