The January transfer window has come to a close and yet some clubs are not completely satisfied with their dealings over the past month. Arsenal have traded away a few key figures in the window and has brought in Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the latter on a club record fee.
And now it looks like Arsene Wenger is already preparing for the summer by targeting a move for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper, Jan Oblak. This might come as a shocking news to some of the Arsenal faithful but to the others – much awaited. Petr Cech made a horrendous error in the side’s 3-1 loss to Swansea City earlier this week. His failed clearance attempt allowed the Swans to slot in an easy goal from the penalty box and get the lead in the second half.
Even though the 35-year-old has apologized for his mistake, some might not be too eager to forgive the number one shot stopper. Arsenal were trying to bridge the gap between them and the Liverpool in the top four but instead have fallen 8 points behind.
With just 13 games left in the league this season, they will have to play an unlikely catchup while still competing hard for the EFL League Cup trophy as well as the Europa League. Arsene Wenger is well aware of the task at hand and might just have reached too deep into the club’s pockets.
Aubameyang’s transfer is a huge break from the usual way of doing things at Arsenal. Spending 63m on a 29-year-old marquee player is not the way Arsene Wenger operates and it seems like he has gotten a taste of how things get done in the Premier League world – splash in astronomical rates for wins.
It is no secret that the two-time Champions League finalist will cost the bosses at Emirates a great deal, but will Wenger be ready to splurge when he could spend the cash on some other signing? And will the La Liga outfit be ready to let go of another one of their goalkeepers after Thibaut Courtois made the return to Chelsea?
Both the clubs are competing for the final Europa League trophy. Returning to the Champions League is one of their biggest agendas and Madrid might not agree to sell one of their best defensive figures. Oblak has worked his way to the first team and has impressed time and time again. He is held in high regards by Diego Simeone, which will play a factor in his decision to leave the Wanda Metropolitano.
