Latest transfer reports coming out of Ajax talk about the possibility of the Dutch giants signing Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. The Ajax director of football Marc Overmars has reportedly been in touch with the Gunners to find out about his availability.
The Dutch club expects to lose their incumbent goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to Manchester United. Louis Van Gaal has worked with the Dutch keeper during his stint as the national coach at the Brazil world cup.
Man United are trying to rebuff Real Madrid with all their might in their efforts to sign David de Gea but the Manchester club is publicly insistent that the Spaniard will not be allowed to leave the club this summer. They are willing to run the risk of losing De Gea for free next season, but, it is public knowledge that Van Gaal is pursuing other targets for replacement.
So, if Van Gaal approaches Cillessen with an offer to join him at United, Ajax will be left without a proven keeper. The expectation at the Dutch club is that the 26-year-old is ready to leave the club in case of a confirmed bid. They do not want to be left short and hence the interest in Szczesny.
The Polish keeper has lost his place to David Ospina last season. This was after a series of horrendous blunders and loss of form. And with the arrival of Petr Cech to the club, it is sure that the chances for Szczesny would be as much limited.
But, the initial indications from the Pole and his camp are that he is ready to buckle down and fight for the number one position. There are also reports that he is not reluctant to be a second choice behind the more experienced Cech.
However, a bid from Ajax could change everything. It would be a chance to have more game time under his belt. That may depend on the status of his other competitor Ospina, at the club. Ironically, Ospina could also become a target for Ajax. Personally I would prefer Wenger to send Szczesny on a loan deal tather than a permanent move, as he ten years younger than Cech and could improve in the future under the correct tutelage.
Overmars, who is a former Arsenal star, has already taken striker Yaya Sanogo on loan for a year. Wenger expects that the former Gunners legend Dennis Bergkamp could mould Sanogo’s career. The cordial relations between Wenger and the duo (Overmars and Bergkamp) should make this work.
It all will depend on Szczesny’s decision once a bid is placed. He may want to learn under the tutelage of Cech at the Emirates by staying. But, the lure of game time could be too much to turn down, and I am sure that Bergkamp teaches ‘The Arsenal Way’ at Ajax as well.
Maybe we should be sending more youngsters over to be taught by our old living legend?
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