Andre Onana in action during the UEFA Champions League match against Valencia (Getty Images)
According to Dutch outlet NOS (h/t Metro), Arsenal are the most likely destination for Ajax goalkeeper, Andre Onana. He was banned from football last October when he failed an out-of-competition drug test. However, the 25-year-old Cameroonian has appealed the ban in CAS, with the verdict coming out soon.
And it is said that if the ban is upheld, then Arsenal could pay as low as £1.7million to the Dutch side. That is because Onana is out of contract in the summer of 2022, when he would be free to leave for absolutely nothing. If his ban, which lasts for another 6 months, is reduced or cancelled, then Arsenal would have to pay between £5.1million to £7.7million for him.
Onana is one of Europe’s top goalkeepers and has been in goal for Ajax since his transfer in 2015.
Since then, he has made over 200 appearances for the club in all competitions. In fact, Manuel Neuer, one of the greatest goalkeepers of this generation, declared his love for Onana in the past and called himself Onana’s ‘biggest fan’.
So all things said and done, the transfer fee quoted above for a player of Onana’s ability and stature is an absolute bargain.
That fee looks like peanuts when compared to how much some teams are paying for goalkeepers nowadays. Just consider the fact that Chelsea have a £71million keeper as their backup!
The report cites Mikel Arteta as being unhappy with 29-year-old Bernd Leno, who is currently Arsenal’s No.1, and Onana is mentioned as a replacement for Leno. That makes complete sense because if Leno leaves, the Gunners would need an immediate replacement for him.
The club loaned Matt Ryan from Brighton and Hove Albion this January on a six-month deal. That is now over and he has left the club. Amidst this, signing a goalkeeper becomes absolutely imperative if Leno leaves.
Onana is a brilliant option, although his ban could potentially go on for another 6 months.
And in the event that Leno stays, Onana will offer him direct competition from the starting spot. As noted above, Arteta is reportedly unhappy with the German’s showing this season, where Arsenal finished a lowly 8th. Onana’s inclusion could see performances of both goalkeepers go up with them having to compete for the starting spot.
Apart from that, as we know, Ryan is set to re-join Brighton after the end of his loan spell. In that event, Arsenal are left with no experienced backup goalkeepers. That, of course, becomes a cause of concern especially for a top club like Arsenal who would want to compete for trophies on multiple fronts.
Their current roster includes a 26-year-old Runar Alex Runarsson, who played just 15 minutes of league football this season, and Dejan Iliev, who has not played a single minute of senior football for Arsenal despite being at the club since 2012. Thus, there is no doubt that even if Leno stays, Arteta could do with some depth and competition in the goalkeeper department.
