For a club that aren’t supposed to be trying to sign a goalkeeper in this window Arsenal sure are being linked with a lot of them and today we have a new name on the list – Thomas Strakosha.

ROME, ITALY - MAY 15: Thomas Strakosha of SS Lazio arrival before the TIM Cup Final match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on May 15, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images for Lega Serie A)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 15: Thomas Strakosha of SS Lazio arrival before the TIM Cup Final match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on May 15, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images for Lega Serie A)

Earlier this week it was reported that the club would be promoting Emi Martinez to the role of number two behind Bernd Leno following Petr Cech’s retirement.

That seemed to make sense. Arsenal have hardly any money this summer and need reinforcements in other areas of the squad desperately. I don’t think you’ll find a single Arsenal fan complaining about the club prioritising where they spend their cash.

But, despite this, they have been linked with a host of keepers including, but not limited to, Gianluigi Donarumma, Markus Schubert, and Norberto Neto.

Now we have Thomas Strakosha.

MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 13: Thomas Strakosha of SS Lazio directs his defense during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 13, 2019 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 13: Thomas Strakosha of SS Lazio directs his defence during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 13, 2019 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Apparently, in the spring, Tottenham were interested in signing Strakosha from Lazio to replace Hugo Lloris. But, according to a report from Corriere della Sera (Rome edition), it is Arsenal who are more interested in the 24-year-old Albanian now.

Lazio, however, have no intention of selling the player who is under contract until 2022, unless, of course, Arsenal come in with an offer that ‘really matters’.

CdS also mention that the player could have his head turned by both the thought of a new challenge and the financial incentives on offer from a club like Arsenal. At present, Strakosha earns around £17kpw, a sum even skint Arsenal could better significantly.

190612 cds strakosha
“Defence, Bonifazi and Viana Arsenal goes on Strakosha” Coriere della Sera (Rome) 12 June 2019

Strakosha signed for Lazio in 2012 when he was 17. He cost just £68k. Now, he has a reported market value of £18m.

He conceded just two goals in five Coppa Italia matches last season, whilst he also kept 10 cleansheets in 35 Serie A games as they finished eighth in the table.

CdS report that he is also a keeper who is ‘often criticised in Rome, appreciated abroad’.