Arsenal are reportedly interested in bringing Standard Liege stopper Guillaume Hubert over to the Emirates
Belgian publication HLN.BE have claimed that Arsenal are showing interest in Standard Liege shot-stopper Guillaume Hubert. The 22-year-old has been impressive for the Belgian giants this season, and is now on the radar of the Gunners with Wenger eyeing the youngster as a long-term successor to Petr Cech.
Guillaume Hubert is a 22-year-old Belgian goalkeeper who has come up through the ranks at Ligue 2 outfit, Valenciennes. The player has already appeared for the national squad at various youth levels right upto the under-21 level and is thought to be on the brink of breaking into the senior squad for Belgium.
The player, who is eligible to represent both Belgium and France, has been largely impressive for Standard Liege despite keeping only 1 shutout this season. Hubert was previously linked with the likes of Liverpool and Leicester City at the beginning of 2016, and now it appears as though the 22-year-old is being courted by Arsenal.
Arsenal have already sent representatives to scout the player five times and the scouts were present, for the sixth time, over the weekend to watch him make some wonderful saves to earn his side a point against Genk. It is almost certain that the scouts would have sent glittering reports back to the Emirates.
An Arsenal scout attended Genk-Standard. All Belgian papers are writing that #AFC have already watched Standard GK Guillaume Hubert 5 times. pic.twitter.com/pMZfVfAbTy
— Kristof Terreur ? (@HLNinEngeland) December 20, 2016
Hubert looks set to depart from Standard Liege though, with the player’s contract up for expiry at the end of the current season. As per the report, Arsenal may test Standard’s resolve by approaching the club for a January transfer, but it is unlikely that the Belgian outfit would let their number 1 keeper leave in the middle of the season.
A summer transfer though looks almost certain and with no other club currently interested in the player, Arsenal look to be clear favourites to land the 22-year-old. Arsene Wenger has been looking for a goalkeeper to add to the squad and hence, the Gunners have been linked with many young keepers in the recent past.
However, the player seems to have experience of playing at a top level as well as experience of European competitions under his belt, which could give him the edge above other transfer targets. The likes of Simon Mignolet and Thibaut Courtois are already established in the Premier League at Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.
Guillaume Hubert would look to emulate his Belgian counterparts as he looks set to embark upon a journey, and by the looks of it, it is more likely to be anything but mediocre.
