Arsenal are reportedly monitoring the progress of Freddie Woodman, who has been identified as a possible solution to their goalkeeping issue.
According to football.london, Freddie Woodman has popped up on the radar of Arsenal over a possible transfer. The 23-year-old Englishman is one of several names being considered to solve the Gunners’ goalkeeping conundrum, with Runar Alex Runarsson failing to impress Mikel Arteta.
Woodman joined Newcastle United in 2013, finishing his footballing education with the Magpies a year later. Since then, though, the young goalkeeper, who first came under the spotlight following his heroics at the 2017 Under-20 World Cup with England, has been hauled out on six different loan spells, managing just 3 appearances for Newcastle till date.
It is at his most recent loan spells, both at Swansea City, where he has excelled, keeping 15 clean sheets in 25 appearances for the Welsh outfit this term. His progress has not gone unnoticed, with Arsenal setting their sights on the 23-year-old Newcastle loanee.
The interest from the Gunners makes some sense, with Runar Alex Runarsson struggling to make an impression since arriving from Dijon last summer, despite a decent enough debut in Arsenal colours. Having sold Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa in the same window, the Icelandic goalkeeper has failed to measure up to the required levels.
As a result, it has been suggested that Runarsson could be loaned out by Arsenal so that he can garner more experience and reach the requisite level. Before that, though, the north Londoners will need to sign a replacement, having also sold Matt Macey to Hibernian this month.
To that end, Barcelona goalkeeper Neto has been identified as a possible target, with Woodman now on their radar as well. This is not the first time that the 23-year-old has emerged as a possible option for the Premier League heavyweights, who have been following his progress since the latter stages of the 2019/20 season.
That his father is also the Head of under-23s Goalkeeping Team at Arsenal could help them in securing the services of the young goalkeeper, whose path towards first-team football at Newcastle is currently blocked by Karl Darlow and Martin Dubravka. What now remains to be seen is if Arsenal do make a move to sign Woodman, and if that happens this month or in the summer.
