ARSENAL’S hopes of swooping for Andre Onana have hit a snag with the Ajax stopper keen on a Lyon switch, according to reports.
And Football London claims the Gunners are seeking to sign five players before the August 31 summer transfer deadline.
It is thought Mikel Arteta and Emirates technical chief Edu are looking to recruit two defenders and two midfielders in addition to a goalkeeper.
It comes days after rumours of the North London side granting an exit to stopper Alex Runarsson following his errors during Arsenal’s league cup quarters loss to Man City in December.
Onana, 25, has been heavily linked with Mikel Arteta’s side who are eager to secure a higher-placed finish in the top-flight next term after failing to qualify for Europe.
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The Cameroon-born player has kept 84 clean sheets in 204 Ajax appearances since his 2015 move to Amsterdam from Barcelona’s Under-19s side.
The stopper, who is thought to be Arsenal’s top goalkeeping target, has just one year remaining on his contract.
And Football London claims the Emirates outfit may have to offer incentives to the stopper to beat Lyon in the race for his signature.
It is thought the guarantee of first-team starts ahead of first-choice keeper Andre Leno, 29, could help swing things in Arsenal’s favour.
However, some outlets in France claim Lyon – who finished fourth in Ligue One last term – are leading the chase for Onana
The Cameroon ace is currently serving a playing ban for breaking doping regulations which is due to end in November.
And Dutch news outlet NOS suggests Onana’s agent has reached a personal agreement with the Groupama Stadium side.
Reports claim German international Leno’s Arsenal future could still be in doubt
This despite the player being established as the club’s No1 stopper following Emi Martinez’s departure for Villa in September 2020.
In May The Athletic claimed the player, who sealed a 2018 switch from Bayern Leverkusen, was among five first-team regulars who are thought to want to leave the Emirates.
The others are David Luiz, who left at the end of last season, Hector Bellerin, Willian and Granit Xhaka, who is expected to move to Roma.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
