Dejan Iliev is set to spend the season on loan in Slovakia, according to reports from his home country of Macedonia.

Macedonian outlet Ekipa report that Iliev will join SFK Sered’ in the Slovakian first division this season. Arsenal decided a loan was the best next step for his career, but they retain the right to recall Iliev in January if necessary.

The links to Sered’ make sense, considering the large Macedonian contingent in charge of the club. They’re managed by Iliev’s compatriot Slavče Vojneski, and the two assistant managers are also both from the Arsenal goalkeeper’s home country.

Iliev is clearly close to a move somewhere, after he was left out of the tour of the USA despite featuring heavily in first-team training.

The 24-year-old had one two-year period of absence with injury earlier in his career. However, he’s now had a couple of healthy seasons and made 21 appearances for the u23s in 2018/19. He also made the bench for the first team on two occasions.

Clearly, it’s time for him to make the step up to senior football, but with Emi Martinez and Matt Macey returning alongside Bernd Leno, his chances were going to be severely limited at Arsenal. A loan should work best for all parties concerned.