Arsenal face a very important summer transfer window ahead of the next season. The Gunners failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League after finishing in the fifth spot in the Premier League and that is something that might hamper them in their bid to sign the best of the players.
After months of uncertainty over the future of manager Arsene Wenger, the Frenchman put it all to rest by signing a new two-year deal with the club. Now he faces a big task ahead of the next season, to take Arsenal back to Champions League spots and lead the team to challenge for the Premier League once again.
He also faces a challenge to keep the club’s star players Alexis Challenge and Mesut Ozil. Both the stars will enter the last years of their deals with the club and there hasn’t been much progress achieved over negotiations for a new contract. This is something that Wenger will need to sort out quickly before the club heads into pre-season.
While it is Sanchez and Ozil that are in the limelight, another player whose future at the club is goalkeeper David Ospina. The Colombian shot-stopper has been strongly linked with a move away from the Emirates, having had to contend with being the second-choice for most parts of the season behind Petr Cech. And there have been reports of growing frustrations within the player over the lack of minutes. Amid speculations over what lies next for the 28-year old, should Arsenal look to keep him at the club? Or should they be looking to cash in on him?
Ospina joined Arsenal in the summer of 2014 from French side OGC Nice, but has struggled to establish himself as the No.1 at the Emirates, having had to play second fiddle to Petr Cech throughout his tenure. Having been with the North Londoners for three seasons, the Colombian international has managed just 50 appearances for the club.
This season, he managed only 14 appearances in all competitions, only two of which came in the Premier League. He was the Gunners’ first choice in the Champions League and was between the sticks when they suffered the utter humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 stages. He managed just four clean sheets in his 14 games. Throughout his spell with Arsenal, Ospina has been pointed fingers at for his inconsistent displays. On his day, he can be absolutely brilliant but he can be equally poor on occasions.
And with the World Cup year coming ahead, he might not be willing to play second fiddle anymore and he hasn’t done enough for Arsenal to convince the club to bend to his wishes and stop him from leaving. With reports of interest from Turkish giants Fenerbahce and US Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy (The Sun), a sale would be better for both the parties at this point of time and Wenger should definitely be looking at bringing in a new custodian.