Arsenal have identified Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow as a potential replacement for Aaron Ramsdale reports The Telegraph.
The 26-year-old Holland Netherlands international is the first-choice keeper at De Kuip and has 143 appearances and 54 clean sheets to his name.
Rotterdam born-and-bred, he made his debut in 2017 and has become a mainstay in the first team over the last four seasons winning two Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups. He also played alongside Reiss Nelson in the final of the Europa Conference League in 2022 when Feyenoord lost to Roma.
On paper, he looks like a decent fit for a back-up keeper. However, when you look at his long history of injuries it does make you wince. To say he’s missed a lot of football is an understatement.
As we know already, the Gunners have already committed to spending £27 million on David Raya to make his loan switch from Brentford permanent.
It’s assumed the Spaniard will take over the number 1 shirt with Aaron Ramsdale, confined to the bench for most of last season, set to be allowed to leave. While the England international has played down suggestions he’s off to Newcastle United, the rumours continue to circle.
In the meantime, Raya, Ramsdale and Bijlow have all been selected by their respective countries for the upcoming European Championships.
Elsewhere, and we’re only really reporting this because we wanted to use the pun in the headline, we’re still being linked with 20-year-old striker Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenia international joined RB Salzburg in 2019, scored a few goals, and last summer worked his way across the Austro-German border to join sister club RB Leipzig.
He netted 14 times in his debut season in the Bundesliga attracting interest from across Europe. It’s claimed his release clause is around the £56 million mark.
If we’re looking for a big lad, they don’t come much bigger than Sesko who is 6′ 5″. He’s also got a very severe side-parting and so much body art you wonder if he sleeps in a tattoo parlour.
You don’t get this level of analysis in an FBREF spreadsheet, we can tell you…
I always tell Edu to Bijlow and sell high.
He clearly hasn’t been listening to you!
He never listens, Andrew. He takes one look at me and all he can think about is his barbecue.
When they aren’t playing footie, Brazilians are pretty much always thinking of BBQs, so don’t take it too personally McCheese
It’s frustrating, though, Daveo. I might as well be two buns flapping in the wind.
That artificial looking cheddar should keep them stuck together…watch out for the seagulls though.
Better that than BBLs
LOL
Am wondering when the end of season analysis would come Blogs. It can’t be that I have missed it. Can it ?
We need to be at the top of our transfer game this summer with so many leaving or possibly going. This season wasn’t too bad for injuries but the previous one was. Plus it takes a.while for new transfers to settle in e.g. Havertz so the sooner we get them the better.
Not sure about Bijlow. He seems to get injured every time he steps on the pitch. I am also curious to know if he wants to leave Feyenoord to be backup elsewhere as he is a massive Feyenoord fan. Quite a good goalie tho.
Rams can’t get a look in why would this guy come just to sit on the bench?
Money bags 💰
And maybe being on premier league bench / some cup starts for Arsenal is still a step up in profile from the Dutch league
Yep
Sesko or Zirkzee would be ideal
Got to be Isak if we want mega goalz
These two seem very mediocre to me. Isak would level the team up. Sesko or zirkzee are lateral moves, squad filler signings.
The striker thing has arisen from the wider punditry and become an immovable object. And it’s a lie. It’s not a striker we lack per se, but an unstoppable transitional threat. It’s not that we need a 6’5″ strongman to lead the line. We already have a player with an in the box presence but far more experience and versatility in Havertz and a fully fit Jesus offers dynamism and defensive nous and workrate that Sesko is yet to cultivate. Sesko is 19 with one season of elite top flight experience. It would be a case of buying for the… Read more »
It’s Isak… He’s world class and he is that transitional threat you speak of. He should be this summer’s Rice. He will level up this team and could play basically across the front three particularly left and up front. Jesus hopefully gets fit and provides cover for Saka.
It won’t be Isak — not for the money Newcastle would ask for him, so I don’t even think the club would be pursuing this at all. He’s good, but he’s not that good, and he’s not a Rice-level signing. I don’t think we are even pursuing a Rice-level signing (though we would do it if it came our way, of course). Transfers in and out this summer will happen quickly, and they might well be head-scratchers — but trust the process.
Yep!
If Rashford pulls his head out of his rear end he could be THAT guy too. I would gamble on that for a reasonable price, < 50 million.
Yeah, I tend to believe that Arteta and our dressing room would elevate him to golden boot levels.
I really like Rashford, but he doesn’t defend. He’d get slaughtered for standing around like he does at united.
I reckon Isak is that good (most Henry esque player I have seen since the great one himself) and he seems the right character (hence, why I want no part of Osimhen who is all ego), so I think this story is one that actually has some legs. Sesko, fits the profile of potential, but he’d likely need a spell somewhere else. Zirksee reminds me of Chamakh. Why would we not be pursuing Rice-level signings? I don’t see any sense in your argument. Why would we pursue someone as squad filler that will likely still cost a lot and then… Read more »
Watch some Rafa Leao tape. Definite Titi vibes with that guy. Size, speed, finishing from nominally wide areas. Defenders can’t live with him. That dude is truly special.
Yeah, I agree on Rafa Leao too (he looks promising and quality; not at Isak’s level yet – particularly in anyway apart from the ball at his feet), but there isn’t much in terms of linking us to him. And he’s signed until 2028 and his release clause is 175M quid. Seems very unlikely…
I tend to follow Dr. G’s line of thinking below. I just don’t see the club spending Rice-level money on a player to complement our forward line — which is what I think the club will pursue. Havertz proved he can stay fit and play up top, productively, so I don’t see the logic in spending over 100 million pounds on a player who might start some games on the bench. Rice came in and took over, and that was that — I would be shocked if we signed a player at that price again this season, and Newcastle is… Read more »
Isak would start – he’s much better than you’re giving him credit for, (I think) mostly from the left, but sometimes up top too, which would give us options. Why would he not improve? He is 24 and has gotten better every year. This year he’s nominated for player of the season for a reason – he’s been absolutely outstanding and dynamic. And what would happen if Havertz was injured? You want to rely on Jesus as our only forward (I don’t doubt his quality, but I am very concerned about his knees). I agree on needing a midfielder too.… Read more »
I don’t disagree that he is a very good player, but we aren’t spending 100+ million on him. He’s not Declan Rice transformational.
And Martinelli has not plateaued. That is nonsense. He lost his place to Trossard, and struggled to win it back. That’s it. He will be a goal machine next season again.
There are some things Isak does better than Havertz and Jesus, at least last season his finishing was great. But that does tend to wax and wane for most strikers, for example Martinelli performed way above two seasons ago and way below this season. I wouldn’t bet the house on that sustaining. Then you have to think about how much we lose in terms of link play and defensive work rate, which are top qualities of Havertz and Jesus and prized by Arteta. Not saying Isak is a passenger but it takes special character to play for Mikel. Furthermore I… Read more »
Sorry, disagree on all this. It is his drive and capacity with the ball at his feet that make him a stand out. He also has the work ethic (excellent work rate off ball). And as I just wrote to Futsboller, he’s improved significantly every year (this last year he’s been absolutely world class). IMO he’d be a substantial upgrade on Martinelli from the left. He could play a lot up top for a different look. We need a player with that drive and killer instinct – that is what we are really lacking. Saka has it, but his efficiency… Read more »
The numbers back up Isak as a guy who tucks chances away but needs to be supplied with bulletts and operates best bursting into space from deeper areas. Not the type of football Arsenal will ask him to play.
Look where he is on this chart… look lower.
https://twitter.com/_JKDS_/status/1793767846628987297/photo/1
You got it!!! LEAO!! that’s the piece we need.
Zirkzee of 7 Serie A goals and 4 assists all of last season? No, thanks.
Benjamin Seskon would be the ideal Deep Space number 9
Clicked hoping for the poo-o-meter 🥲
Any particular players we should try to be linked with purely on pun basis?
Not for us, but I know who Chelsea should sign to replace the tubby Argentinian
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Kuntz
This could be his theme tune. But then it’s already a theme for that entire club.
https://youtu.be/5IKbmQ4Cs08?si=nLN28FmJRQS_T0Yg
GBP40m for Ramsdale (GBP200m to Newcastle) .
I can’t imagine the commentators nightmare trying to say Bijlow without refering to the sweet act that their wife/girlfriend might do to them from time to time lol
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