Transfer News: Arsenal Table £8.4m Offer For Portuguese Stopper

Despite the transfer window being closed there is still plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Arsenal are linked with Rui Patricio.

Arsenal have stepped up their efforts to sign a new goalkeeper this summer with boss Arsene Wenger understood to have tabled an £8.4m offer for Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio, according to the Express.

The future of Wojciech Szczesny has come under the spotlight in recent weeks after he was ‘rested’ for the Champions League second leg with Bayern Munich due to concerns over his mental state. The young Pole was subsequently left out of the starting eleven for the following game against Swansea with deputy Lukasz Fabianski keeping two clean sheets in his absence.

It seems Szczesny may have to get used to his new role on the bench with the Express claiming Wenger is keen to sign a new keeper this summer and Patricio has joined the likes of Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes on the bosses hit-list.

We’ve now stepped up our interest in the Portuguese international stopper with the newspaper suggesting Arsenal have tabled an opening offer of £8.4m, but Sporting are believed to be holding out for a fee nearer £12.6m for the 25-year-old.

Patricio has been with Sporting his entire professional career and has racked up almost 250 appearances during his seven years with the club. His form has seen him break into the Portuguese national team set up and he’s now regarded as first choice and kept a clean sheet during their World Cup qualifying win over Azerbaijan in midweek.

However, while I think we certainly need to sign another goalkeeper this summer, I’d be slightly surprised if Wenger brought in someone like Patricio – who’s just a couple of years older than Szczesny. I still see Wojceich as our long-term number one and would prefer to see a more experienced keeper come in who he could learn the ropes from before eventually replacing in a season or two.

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We’ll have to wait and see what the boss does this summer but if Szczesny starts on the bench again on Saturday against Reading the signs aren’t looking good that he’ll be No.1 next season.

Do you think Arsenal need to sign a new goalkeeper? Who would you like to see come in? Get involved in the comments section below.