David Ospina has been linked with a move away, but Arsenal would be mad to let him go.
The Mirror reported on Monday that Besiktas would not pay the £3 million that Arsenal have demanded for David Ospina.
But it would be a huge mistake for manager Arsene Wenger to let Ospina leave – let alone for a meagre £3 million.
Wenger need only look at the way in which Ospina and Arsenal’s number one Petr Cech have conducted themselves on international duty in recent weeks to know that he would be wise to keep the Colombian stopper.
The 27-year-old had a fine game in helping his nation into the Copa America Centenario semi-finals at the expense of Peru.
Cech, on the other hand, offered further evidence of decline with a shakey performance in Czech Republic’s 2-2 Euro 2016 draw with Croatia last week.
The 34-year-old was a fine goalkeeper, but the truth is that it’s becoming increasingly obvious that his best days are behind him and Wenger should consider displacing him with Ospina for the start of next season.
Twelve months ago it was touted that he would earn the Gunners a lot more points – now he’s liable to cost them.
In fact, should Ospina – who started four Premier League games last season – even be in a position where he needs to displace anyone?
He was given an extended run in the first team between March and April last term and produced some fine performances; most notably in the Champions League versus Barcelona.
But Cech was recalled immediately upon returning to fitness.
With Wenger choosing players based on profile and reputation rather than form, few would blame Ospina if he did leave, but he has a brighter future than Cech and it’s on Wenger if Ospina proves himself a world-class stopper at another club – and he will.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
