Transfer News: Arsenal To Rival Liverpool For £7m Stopper

Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, Arsenal and Liverpool want Ali Al-Habsi.

Arsenal are set to rival Liverpool to the signing of Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi this January, according to the Mirror.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is keen to strengthen his goalkeeping options when the transfer window re-opens and sees Wigan’s Al-Habsi as the man to provide competition to Wojciech Szczesny for the No.1 jersey at the Emirates.

Wenger has been monitoring the Oman international’s progress for over a year and is now finally ready to move after being left unimpressed by the performances of Szczesny’s current back-up Vito Mannone.

While the Italian may have put in some decent display’s during Szczesny’s absence this season, he has still not convinced the Frenchman he can really push the young Pole and Wenger want’s two top class keepers on his books.

Al-Habsi has become one of the most highly-rated stoppers in the Premier League since joining Wigan from Bolton in 2011. The Latics are desperate to hang on to the 30-year-old and have slapped a £7m price-tag on his head, but that will not deter Wenger from making a January bid.

However, Arsenal will face competition from Liverpool as Brendan Rodgers is also on the look-out for someone to push Pepe Reina for a first team spot at Anfield and has short-listed Al-Habsi as a target.

Read more Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

Roberto Martinez and Dave Whelan insist they are under no pressure to cash-in, and Al-Habsi has not been itching for a move, but Wenger and Rodgers are confident they can lure the player away from the DW Stadium.

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