La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid are reportedly considering offering 23-year-old goalkeeper Andriy Lunin a new contract soon.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Andriy Lunin could soon receive a new contract offer from Real Madrid. The Merengues are weighing up the prospect of extending the stay of the 23-year-old goalkeeper before loaning him out in the summer transfer window.
Andriy Lunin joined Real Madrid from Zorya Luhansk in July 2018, arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu amid much hype surrounding him. But the Ukrainian international has struggled to establish a foothold in the first-team setup at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Thibaut Courtois going from strength to strength in the last four years.
Lunin’s prospects improved somewhat this past season, as he made four appearances across all competitions, including two in La Liga after Real Madrid had clinched the title. But the Los Blancos’ deputy goalkeeper remains frustrated by the lack of game-time coming his way and could seek a departure in the summer transfer window.
The 23-year-old is keen on featuring prominently at the first-team level in the 2022/23 season, especially considering the FIFA World Cup beckons in a few months. Ukraine will need to beat Wales this weekend to qualify for Qatar 2022, and if successful, Oleksandr Petrakov will start chalking out the plans for the big tournament.
Lunin will thus hope to be in Petrakov’s plans as the first-choice goalkeeper, and he will need to be featuring prominently somewhere next season for that to happen. The Ukrainian international has no shortage of suitors, with West Ham United, in particular, set to open talks with Real Madrid over a possible summer transfer.
But Real Madrid might only be open to sending the 23-year-old out on loan in the summer transfer window instead of selling him permanently. But before doing so, the Spanish giants are expected to hand Lunin a new contract to secure his long-term future.
Carlo Ancelotti rates Lunin highly, and with Courtois into his thirties, having the Ukrainian shot-stopper on board should bode well for Real Madrid. But with Real Madrid also hot on the trail of Gabriel Slonina, it will be interesting to see how the two youngsters fit in the scheme of things.
