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Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina has been linked with a move back to his native Columbia as he looks to secure his World Cup place.
The 29-year old, who signed from Nice in 2014, has failed to displace Petr Cech as the number one keeper at The Emirates, and despite regular appearances in European and Cup games for The Gunners, is growing frustrated by his lack of first-team opportunities.
Despite this, he has been first choice for the national team for some time and has earned 81 international caps. However, his place in the side has come under scrutiny following several high-profile blunders in Columbia’s World Cup qualifying campaign, most notably at home to Paraguay, and he fears that his lack of regular playing time with Arsenal may count against him.
Now it looks like former club Atletico Nacional may be about to offer him a return home to regular football, especially as their own keeper, Franco Armani, is said to be a target for Argentina’s River Plate.
However, Arsenal’s willingness to let him go may be dependent on lining-up a suitable replacement, as they lack experienced back-up in the goalkeeping department. Wojciech Szczesny was sold to Juventus in the summer, Emiliano Martinez was allowed to leave on loan, and third-choice Matt Macey is very inexperienced.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.