Arsenal eyeing ‘outstanding’ 23-year-old international whose contract expires this year

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Arsenal have reportedly set their sights on a 23-year-old international goalkeeper as a potential replacement for Aaron Ramsdale.

The Gunners stopper has fallen behind David Raya in the pecking order and, as such, may consider his future in the summer.

Now, according to The Telegraph, Arsenal are looking at Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The 23-year-old, who also has one cap for the United States, has been impressing for Columbus since joining in 2022 via the MLS SuperDraft.

Schulte broke into their first team and has made 43 competitive appearances to date, helping them win the 2022/23 MLS Cup.

Arsenal apparently see him as having a similar profile to Matt Turner, who they signed from New England Revolution before selling him to Nottingham Forest last summer.

Schulte’s contract with Columbus expires at the end of the calendar year, though the club has a year’s option they can trigger if they so wish.

Arsenal target Patrick Schulte is ‘extremely demanding with himself’

Head coach Wilfried Nancy sung the reported Arsenal target’s praises last year after he helped the club reach the Eastern Conference finals.

In November’s 2-0 win over Orlando City, Schulte pulled off a save said to be reminiscent of Emiliano Martinez’s iconic stop for Argentina against France in the 2022 World Cup final.

“Schulte, he kept us in the game,” 90Min quoted Nancy as saying after the match.

“I’m so happy for him because I remember many games that he was not happy about his performance and he did a good job during the performance, but he was not happy with that.

“All the time, he’s extremely demanding with himself to try to put the level up and the level up.”

Schulte looks like a decent talent and it’ll be interesting to see whether Arsenal firm up their interest in him.