Arsenal show interest in Onana

By Saheed Afolabi

Arsenal are presently weighing up their options in the goalkeeping area and are strong contenders for Ajax goalkeeper, Andre Onana.

The Cameroon goalkeeper is wanted by Arsenal and he is presently serving a 12 months doping suspension which will expire by February 2022.

Though Onana has appealed the doping ban, Arsenal will wait for the result of the appeal before stepping up their interest in the goalkeeper.

Onana was suspended for 12 months by UEFA after he was found to have used a banned substance Furosemide, which was found in his urine.

The appeal will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in June and a verdict will be given later in June.

Onana’s lawyers want the ban to be reduced to 8 months to make it easier for him to find a move away from Ajax.

Arsenal had an interest in 25 year old Onana in January this year but financial issues prevented the North London side from making a concrete offer.

The goalkeeper will cost potential buyers £12 million if his appeal is successful but an offer in the region of £7 million will make the Eredivisie champion into doing business because the goalkeeper’s contract will expire by the summer of 2022.

Terms of Onana ban noted that he is unable to train with Ajax and currently works with his personal goalkeeping coach on pitches owned by local amateur club in Amsterdam.

If his appeal is successful, Onana will be allowed to start training with a professional team in June.