Arsenal are reportedly looking to land FC Koln goalkeeper Timo Horn to succeed veteran custodian Petr Cech, with the Gunners eyeing a summer move for the player.
According to The Sun, Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal side might just be about to strike gold, as far as laying down the succession plan for veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech is concerned. FC Koln goalkeeper Timo Horn is on their radar and the German could be available for a cut-price fee in the summer transfer window.
Timo Horn is a Koln player through and through. The 24-year-old came through the ranks at Koln before becoming a highly-rated prospect, not just in Bundesliga but the entire Europe. But, in his 16th year of association with the club, the player has been unable to improve the club’s fortunes.
Peter Stoger, now the Dortmund boss, was given his marching orders after Koln, who turned heads with their displays last season, started the 2017-18 season in a disastrous manner. And the misery has continued for the club, who are still rock-bottom in the Bundesliga, with just 9 points in 18 games.
This run has also seen Timo Horn’s impact being marginalised, with Koln leaking 33 goals in 18 Bundesliga fixtures up until now. Despite the poor record this season, the 24-year-old is being linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal eyeing a summer move for the custodian.
Some ?? release clauses for the summer:
Timo Horn: ~ €6m
Jonas Hector: ~ €10m
Julian Brandt: €12.5m
Nadiem Amiri: €17m
Jonathan Tah: €20m pic.twitter.com/t1JEwbguQL— max riegel (@max_riegel) January 12, 2018
Petr Cech is 35 and his performances show that the age might be starting to catch up to him. The former Chelsea man has been accused of being slow to go low, with the veteran custodian also showing a certain regression in his decision-making ability, which has seen Arsenal leak a few unnecessary goals – ones that could have been averted by an in-his-prime Cech.
Arsenal could do with Timo Horn, who could also be looking to move, if Koln do get relegated from the Bundesliga at the end of the season. The prospect does look likely, with the German outfit currently on just 9 points, having played a little more than half of their total league matches.
If the report is to believed, Horn has a £5.4 million relegation release clause in his contract – an option that could be triggered by Arsenal in the summer. Indeed, Arsenal will get a keeper who can command the goal for the next decade or so, while Horn will be able to compete in the illustrious Premier League and most probably, in Europe as well.
This looks like the deal that Arsene Wenger could go for, with a recent preference to bring in players from the Bundesliga, including the arrival of Sven Mislintat, former transfer expert at Borussia Dortmund.
Also, with the potential of an absolute steal in the summer, Arsenal fans could be treated to a new goalkeeper between the posts – something they have been calling for after a few blips from Cech.
