Arsenal have been linked with a string of goalkeepers this summer: Mark Schwarzer, Sebastien Frey and Manuel Neuer, to name but a few. Now it is reported that Arsene Wenger has shifted his sights onto Italy’s Federico Marchetti.
Marchetti has recently taken the Italian goalkeeping jersey from Juventus shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon who suffered a back injury just 45 minutes into the country’s World Cup campaign.
Italy’s form has stuttered so far in their first two group games and they are under extreme pressure to win their last game against Slovakia to qualify. But, for all the criticisms aimed at Marcello Lippi’s team, not many have them have been arrowed in the direction of Arsenal’s new goalkeeping target. The 27-year-old has deputized quite well in the absence of the world’s most expensive goalkeeper despite being unable to cap a leaking, aging defence against Oceania minnows New Zealand.
His association with the Kiwi calamity notwithstanding, Marchetti has proven to be a safe pair of hands for his current club Cagliari – who he moved to permanently in February after a two year loan deal from Serie B side AlbinoLeffe. The ‘keeper has kept 9 clean sheets for the Italian club this season while also being awarded two man-of-the-match awards in April for his performances against Palermo and Napoli.
He has now also made seven full appearances for his national team.
Juventus and Bayern Munich have also been linked recently with the shot stopper but no deals for the Italian are yet in place.
It is rumoured that only a fee in excess of £11m would be accepted by Cagliari but that estimate may now rise with the exposure the goalkeeper is receiving having taken over from the injured Buffon as Italy’s number one.
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Wenger should be specific on whom he wants to sign, the more time he wastes beating around the bush, the harder it gets signing a player.
I thought Wenger has been more than clear as to his targets. Free or very cheap, non English, preferably French speaking. How much more clarity do you require?