Arsenal are reportedly interested in Toulouse’s 17-year-old French wonderkid Alban Lafont, but face competition from FC Porto and Juventus.
17-year-old Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont has been a regular for the Ligue 1 club since last season and has now started grabbing the attention of European heavyweights like Arsenal, Porto and Juventus. Although born in Burkina Faso, Lafont has chosen to represent France on the international stage and has already appeared for the French U16, U17 and U18 national sides.
According to French publication L’Equipe, Arsenal are keeping a close eye on the player with the aim of bringing the French U18 international to England. With David Ospina frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities at Arsenal, the Gunners could offer Lafont the chance to be the immediate deputy to Petr Cech, who recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records.
However, Arsene Wenger faces competition from FC Porto and Serie A giants Juventus, while Watford are also rumoured to be interested in a deal for the French wonderkid. Juventus may attempt to sign the teenager as their own answer to AC Milan’s prodigy Gianluigi Donnarumma, which may hinder Arsenal’s chances of securing a deal for the player.
Lafont showed composure between the posts that belied his tender years and never looked out of place in the 24 league matches he started for his side last season. The French prodigy has continued his progress this season as the undisputed No.1 goalkeeper for Toulouse. The 17-year-old has played each and every minute of his club’s Ligue 1 campaign this season and has managed to keep a clean sheet in 3 out of the 8 games, conceding only 6 goals in the process.
That the 3 clean sheets have come against the better French teams like Marseille, Saint-Etienne and defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, is a testament to the player’s undeniable talent and potential.
Lafont is currently contracted to Toulouse till 2020, but club officials are looking to tie the teenager down to a long-term deal while also offering lucrative terms as part of the new contract in an attempt to fend off potential suitors, state L’Equipe.
Toulouse know they have to act fast in agreeing new terms with the 17-year-old as the club is unlikely to be able to match the incentives offered by the European giants like Arsenal and Juventus with their state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure.
The towering youngster has made the world take notice of his potential with consistently solid performances at the age of 17. The giants of European football now circle around a prodigious talent who appears to be at the beginning of an exciting footballing journey.
Arsenal are reportedly interested in Toulouse’s 17-year-old French wonderkid Alban Lafont, but face competition from FC Porto and Juventus.
17-year-old Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont has been a regular for the Ligue 1 club since last season and has now started grabbing the attention of European heavyweights like Arsenal, Porto and Juventus. Although born in Burkina Faso, Lafont has chosen to represent France on the international stage and has already appeared for the French U16, U17 and U18 national sides.
According to French publication L’Equipe, Arsenal are keeping a close eye on the player with the aim of bringing the French U18 international to England. With David Ospina frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities at Arsenal, the Gunners could offer Lafont the chance to be the immediate deputy to Petr Cech, who recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records.
However, Arsene Wenger faces competition from FC Porto and Serie A giants Juventus, while Watford are also rumoured to be interested in a deal for the French wonderkid. Juventus may attempt to sign the teenager as their own answer to AC Milan’s prodigy Gianluigi Donnarumma, which may hinder Arsenal’s chances of securing a deal for the player.
Lafont showed composure between the posts that belied his tender years and never looked out of place in the 24 league matches he started for his side last season. The French prodigy has continued his progress this season as the undisputed No.1 goalkeeper for Toulouse. The 17-year-old has played each and every minute of his club’s Ligue 1 campaign this season and has managed to keep a clean sheet in 3 out of the 8 games, conceding only 6 goals in the process.
That the 3 clean sheets have come against the better French teams like Marseille, Saint-Etienne and defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, is a testament to the player’s undeniable talent and potential.
Lafont is currently contracted to Toulouse till 2020, but club officials are looking to tie the teenager down to a long-term deal while also offering lucrative terms as part of the new contract in an attempt to fend off potential suitors, state L’Equipe.
Toulouse know they have to act fast in agreeing new terms with the 17-year-old as the club is unlikely to be able to match the incentives offered by the European giants like Arsenal and Juventus with their state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure.
The towering youngster has made the world take notice of his potential with consistently solid performances at the age of 17. The giants of European football now circle around a prodigious talent who appears to be at the beginning of an exciting footballing journey.