Whilst many will be hoping that Arsenal can confirm their next signing fairly soon, with the opening weekend of the upcoming campaign less than two weeks away, it seems that Wenger cannot help himself when it comes to thinking of the future prospects on offer at the club.
Arsenal fans will be hoping that the Gunners’ next signing is a famous face of top quality and experience. Hopefully it is one of Lacazette, Mahrez or Mustafi, with all three being heavily linked with the Gunners over the past two weeks. Mahrez and Lacazette especially are reportedly in negotiations with Arsenal so fingers crossed, but right now all Arsenal have to show for tonight is that the Gunners have offered young Dutch goalkeeper Thomas Jonkerman a trial at the club.
The goalkeeper has joined the Gunners’ Under-19s on a pre-season trip to South Africa, with the youth side currently playing in the Durban International Cup. Jonkerman has been given the opportunity to show his qualities ahead of a potential move to the Gunners. According to the TransferMarkt, Jonkerman is currently contracted to the Nike Academy after leaving Dordrecht U19’s, so I am unsure on what terms of transfer would occur should Arsenal choose to to sign the youngster on a permanent basis.
Although Wenger obviously doesn’t intend to use Jonkerman in his first team plans (and so we shouldn’t be concerned he’s not focused on current transfer targets), it does concern me that Arsenal are looking to add yet another young goalkeeper to the ranks. Arsenal already have Martinez, Huddart, Macey and Iliev, just to name a few players currently behind first team goalies Cech, Ospina and Szczesny. We already have a number of goalkeepers in the pecking order, so what role does Jonkerman have to play if he was to join permanently?
By AH