According to a recent report by the Sun, Arsenal are prepared to move in for Burnley keeper Nick Pope in the summer. The same source has also revealed that the Gunners are on the lookout for a replacement for Petr Cech, who will retire at the end of this campaign. The Gunners have identified the Clarets goalie to play as a back-up to Bernd Leno next season.
Pope has lost his regular starting berth under Sean Dyche this season as Tom Heaton has taken up the senior goal-keeping duties at Turf Moor which could turn out to be the beginning of the end of Pope’s time with the Lancashire outfit.
The English talent was one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League last season which helped him make the cut in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Unfortunately for him, Jordan Pickford was a regular starter for the Three Lions with Pope securing just one international appearance for his country since then.
The 26-year-old has made just three appearances for Burnley this term, conceding five goals while keeping two clean sheets across all competitions. He has been a frustrated figure and has often found himself sitting on Dyche’s bench. Thus, a change of scenery could help him reignite his career in the English top-flight.
Pope has outstanding reflexes and can position himself well in goal. He is also an excellent handler of the ball but lacks the distribution skills required to cut the mustard at a top club like Arsenal. However, he can still be an outstanding back-up goalie, and that is why the Gunners should go all out to recruit him next summer.
The addition of Pope will undoubtedly bolster Unai Emery’s goal-keeping options at the Emirates Stadium. Moreover, the English goalie will also add some much-needed competition for Leno as that could push the German goalkeeper to strive for excellence for the North London outfit in the coming years.
The Cambridge born keeper proved his worth in the Premier League last season so he will be a fantastic acquisition for Emery if the Gunners boss can lure him to make a switch away from Turf Moor in the summer.
