Arsenal eye up bid for Atletico's Jan Oblak

Goal.com is reporting that Arsenal are interested in signing Atelti’s world-class goalkeeper Jan Oblak as they eye up a replacement for Petr Cech. According to the article, Oblak is rated at €100million by his current club which could end up scaring off any potential bid the English club may consider making.

The 23-year-old has been one of the club’s most important players since signing from Benfica back in 2014. The Slovenian shot-stopper was brought in as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who mightily impressed during his lengthy loan spell at the Vicente Calderon. That Oblak is now considered a better goalkeeper than his predecessor speaks volumes as to how superbly he’s played in his time in Spain.

Arsene Wenger has never been too keen to splash a huge amount of cash. His most expensive signing remains Mesut Ozil, who signed from Real way back in 2013, and considering the inflated prices of the modern transfer market since then, it’s remarkable that the German has remained Wenger’s costliest purchase. It’s hard to imagine that he would be open to breaking the world transfer record for a goalkeeper.

There’s also been little to suggest Oblak would even consider leaving Atletico. He’s playing first-team football each week, and has one of the best defences in Spain and Europe in front of him, which is always likely to improve his statistics. His lack of club honours will also motivate him to stay on for a few more years at Atleti, as a failed title challenge and Champions League runners up medal from last season is bound to leave him hungry to taste success in these competitions with his current club.

You can never say never in football, and the likelihood that Europe’s top clubs are keeping an eye on Oblak is strong. But Atletico, with a transfer ban looming, have no reason to sell such a prized asset.