Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has confirmed he’s interested in signing David Ospina but admits the Colombian isn’t the only keeper on his shopping list.
The Italians have already signed two goalkeepers this summer and are now on the lookout for a third after Alex Meret – the replacement for Pepe Reina – broke his arm in pre-season and back-up, Orestis Karnezis, looking somewhat suspect.
Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, Laurentiis revealed: “There are four in contention. [Guillermo] Ochoa, [Simon] Mignolet, Ospina and [Cyprian] Tatarusanu.
“It is true that Ospina could arrive, we are negotiating, there are still some differences on the requests.”
Ospina, who has also been scouted by Besiktas, appears to have tumbled down the pecking order during the summer. He’s under contract at the Emirates for two more years so the suggestion is he could move on loan with a view to a permanent transfer next summer.
Unai Emery has already confirmed he’s happy to let the 29-year-old leave with Emi Martinez set to provide back-up to Bernd Leno and Petr Cech. The latter was himself linked with Napoli earlier in the summer but turned down an offer to fight for his place at the Emirates.
If he’s to be first choice then Napoli has to be the best option for him.
Best of luck to the T-rex armed keeper. He’s by no means a bad goalkeeper, but he’s too good to be backup but not good enough to be first choice for us.
Agreed, but I doubt we’ll see him sanction a move to a club where he’ll be stuck in a four-way cluster for playing time.
Well their first choice has broken his arm, so I should imagine that rules him out the best part of the season, so I guess it really depends on how good the others are?
Also, they only have 3 keepers with one who, according to this article, is “suspect”, leaving a 2 way fight with a second or third choice player. Still s÷m&s better than the Turkish league and, I suspect, better wages too.
Meanwhile Turkish clubs are still interested and a deal is “close” :3
Napoli is not in Turkey :0
So, you’re not an American then? Bit of a giveaway, that level of knowledge of international geography.
What country does your level of humorless butthurt come from? I can’t place it.
Can’t imagiine he won’t be able to fetch a decent price.
He has physical limitations which affects his game but is clearly still a very good International standard keeper. If anything where Cech is better commanding the area, Ospina is the better shot stopper (reactions)
Atletico Bilbao just sold Kepa. Napoli and Besiktas, I’d say Napoli would be the better choice considering strength of leagues comparatively.
Hope we can get a good deal for Ospina. He’s really tried hard for us.
I thought Athletic had a policy of only playing Basque players?
Ospina has his limits. But if Emery is hell bent on playing it out from the back. And neither cech or Leno is capable. Why not play Ospina. He is in fact pretty good with his feet.
Apparently this a done deal says the BBC (on loan option to buy). Pleased for him. He was OK for us. Big club Napoli better than being 3rd choice here.
Oooooospina! Has left the building.
I reckon Ospina will prove a lot his detractors in England wrong at Napoli. I’m not saying there won’t be the odd error in his game, but like Szczesny, playing for a side where they there’s isn’t an inherent prejudgment about their keepers ‘not liking the physical side of the game’ and therefore a distinct lack of protection from refs, will do him the world of good.
I think the ‘prejudice’ in this case is against small keepers, with short arms.
Considering the physical facts he is actually a pretty good keeper.
Totally agree he’s good for his physique, however the I’m not sure the prejudice is towards small keeper. Szczesny & Fabianski were both over 6’3″, yet while at Arsenal both keepers were clearly targeted at corners by the opposition using overly physical tactics, and often got away with it as “they don’t like it up ’em”. I’m not sure if its defenders or refs protecting them better, but you hardly ever see either keeper labeled week at corners or have forwards making a point of fouling blocking them at set pieces having left.
Confirmed as a loan. He’s still The Man They Couln’t Sell…..but hey it’s the fans inherent bias he isn’t universally admired. Or maybe the media. Or maybe the refs too now apparently.
I sometimes wonder who would have been our number one if cech hadn’t arrived
Szczesny?
Word is he will be joining on loan.
Discrepancy between our PL pay and La Liga or in this case the Calcio must be quite significant.
As I recall Ospina cost 3m quid transfer so to recoup the money isn’t a terribly big sum. When you consider a team like Bilbao just sold on their Kepa for 71.6m quid, you’d think We should at least be able to flog Ospina in their direction.
Not sure what’s going on with our selling. Not much has changed.
Ospina is on 40k a week. His salary is not the problem.