Latest reports in the media have brought forth news that Ligue 1 keeper Alban Lafont is interested in joining Arsenal in the future. The young goalkeeper has been excellent in goal this season and has perhaps been the only bright spot in a struggling Toulouse side.
The youngster is highly-rated in world football and at the age of 19, he is already considered a star for the future. His excellent work in goal has seen his name being spoken of in the same bracket as Italian star Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It is believed that the young Frenchman is a fan of the Gunners side and would be keen on a move in the future.
In an interview with SFR Sport, Lafont revealed: “I’ve liked them since I was young – I’d watch the matches of Robin van Persie.”
Lafont added: “I don’t know, we’ll see how it goes. For the immediate future, I would like to save my club [from relegation] and after that, we’ll see later. If I’m good I deserve to move up to the next level, but I am not busy with that right now.”
The Gunners have an excellent goalkeeper in Petr Cech but with the ex-Chelsea stopper already 35, his time at the club may be coming to an end. It would be wise for Arsenal to bring in a replacement now and allow him time to settle in with Cech around to oversee a smooth transition in goal.
The only factor this would complicate is the career of David Ospina, who would be yet again left at Arsenal as a back up to young Lafont and that might not sit well with the Colombian prompting him to seek a career elsewhere.
As for Lafont, if there is one thing Wenger has done well for sure it would have to be his man management of young talent. The Frenchman has taken many a raw talent and drilled them through the rigorous course of learning and developing and turned them into future stars of tomorrow.
Wenger is at the club since 1996. In his 21 year stay at Arsenal, he has revolutionized the training and development program at the club. The resulting nature of the introduction of such new methods has seen the club inducted with a new and efficient scouting network, a proficient youth academy and a manager in charge who simply loves to introduce young players on to the big stage.
Things at the club otherwise have not really gone down well in the recent years. The club has been deprived of success in terms of trophies and with major players leaving almost every other transfer window there has been a question on Arsenal’s eligibility as a top European club. Despite such mounting pressure, it has been astounding to see Wenger stick to his principles and continue to give a chance to his young players on the big stage, something bound to be attracting young top talents like Lafont.
