Real Madrid stalwart Iker Casillas will reportedly leave the Spanish giants in June, with Arsenal chief among potential suitors for his signature.
According to Spanish newspaper ‘AS’, Casillas is growing frustrated at the lack of first team opportunities afforded to him at the Bernabéu, and will be forced to leave his beloved Real if things do not improve.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti has put his faith in Diego Lopez for this season’s La Liga campaign, with Casillas playing in the Cup games for ‘Los Blancos’.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for the out-of-favour keeper, who has been at the Spanish giants for 23 years, and ‘AS’ report that the Gunners and Man City are early front-runners for the 32-year-old.
Arsene Wenger reportedly sees the Spaniard as captain material, and he would provide good competition for current Arsenal number one, Wojciech Szczesny.
Meanwhile, Ashley Cole has said that he’d like Chelsea to sign Southampton’s Luke Shaw, despite the young left-back being touted as the 33-year-old’s successor at the Bridge.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for the bustling full-back for some time, and there were reports that the player had agreed to move to West London, but only if he was guaranteed a first-team berth.
This would mean the end of Ashley Cole’s tenure at the Bridge; but the 33-year-old remarked on Twitter that he would be happy to see the Blues sign the young defender.
The England veteran has seen his first team opportunities limited this season, with Cesar Azpilicueta excelling in the role in recent weeks.
A move for Shaw may have to wait until the summer however, with Southampton reportedly in no mood to sell their prized asset in January.
With Cole the wrong side of thirty, and with the Guardian reporting that he is even considering retirement at the end of the current season, Shaw may be a necessary investment. The defender’s youth and superb athleticism could make him an ideal successor to his England colleague.
What do you think? Would Shaw make a good replacement for Cole? Should Wenger go for Casillas? Let me know in the comments below…
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