Sturm Graz are now facing a ‘difficult’ challenge signing Arsenal’s Premier League youngster Arthur Okonkwo on another loan deal with the club’s sporting director confirming English interest.
The presence of Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s number one and Matt Turner in reserve means the likelihood is that another short-term spell away from the Emirates Stadium awaits young Arthur Okonkwo.
The London-born 21-year-old took the path less travelled from England’s fourth tier to the Austrian top-flight last term; joining Sturm Graz in January after a few months at Crewe Alexandra.
Okonkwo made quite the impact at the Merkur Arena too. He kept four clean sheets as Sturm Graz finished second in the table behind Red Bull Salzburg.
Arsenal’s Arthur Okonkwo has a decision to make
Director Andreas Schicker claimed a couple of weeks ago that Okonkwo was leaning towards extending his stay at the Austrian giants, but the emergence of a few English-based clubs as competition makes the challenge facing Sturm Graz that little bit trickier.
“We are still in the running for another loan,” Schicker tells Laola1. “But there are also inquiries for him on the English market.
“Difficult.”
6ft 6ins Okonkwo joined Arsenal all the way back in 2009. He is yet to make a first-team appearance for the London giants, however, even if Mikel Arteta remains convinced of his vast potential.
“Together with Arthur’s huge talent and hard work, we thank our colleagues at the academy for developing Arthur in recent years to get to this stage,” Arteta said after the former England U18 international signed a five-year deal at the Emirates back in 2021.
“Arthur was working and travelling a lot with the first team last season. We have all seen his quality at first hand.
“He is a strong young goalkeeper with great potential and we’re so pleased he has signed a new deal. He has absolutely earned his place in the first-team squad.
“Arthur will now join us every single day in training, where we look forward to watching him continue to develop and improve his goalkeeping. I know all our fans will join me in congratulating Arthur on this positive step in his career.”
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