Arsenal Transfers: 5 Goalkeepers To Replace Fabianski
4. Rui Patricio
Another goalkeeper Arsenal have been keen on in the past is Rui Patricio and with Fabianski set to leave, Wenger may return for the Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper. The Gunners were rumoured to be in for the 26-year-old last summer, when doubts remained as to whether Szczesny could fulfil his potential and become Arsenals number one. At 26 years of age, Patricio is beginning to enter the best years of his career. Having emerged from Sportings academy, he has gone on to make 280 appearances for the club, winning the Premeira Liga Goalkeeper of the Year in 2012. In that same summer, Patricio established himself as Portugals number one ahead of Euro 2012. The signing of Patricio would definitely strength Arsenals goalkeeping options and he would also be an upgrade on Fabianski. He has cemented his place as Portugals number one goalkeeper and with 29 international caps, his arrival would add experience to the Gunners. However, a clear stumbling block would be game-time. If Patricio were to join Arsenal and only play cup matches, his spot in the national side would certainly be under threat. Indeed, Patricio won his spot after the former national goalkeeper, Eduardo, stopped playing first team football following a move to Benfica. Would Patricio risk the same occurrence happening to him?
Simon is an NCTJ qualified sports journalist. He has conducted interviews with Tony Adams and Peter Shilton, while also having work published in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. Follow him on Twitter via @sr_collings.
