Arsenal can save millions with clever January transfer but face Brighton battle

Arsenal, along with another Premier League club, are reportedly eyeing up young Aston Villa goalkeeper Oliwier Zych. The 20-year-old’s impressive performances for Villa’s development side have earned him a call-up to the senior Poland squad.

With just over six months left on his current contract at Villa Park, Zych will be free to agree a pre-contract with another club when the January window opens. As per the Telegraph, Arsenal are contemplating making a move, but they face competition from fellow Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion FC.

Any club that signs the goalkeeper on a free transfer would need to pay a compensation fee due to his age. This fee is typically set by a tribunal and is generally much lower than any potential transfer fee.

Zych has been named in Villa’s first-team matchday squad three times this season, including for the Champions League game against Bayern Munich. However, he is yet to make his first-team debut for the club.

Last season saw him on loan with Polish team Puszcza Niepolomice, where he played 26 matches and kept seven clean sheets. He moved to Villa from fellow Polish club Lubin in 2020.

A potential move for Zych could see him being lined up as backup to David Raya next season. Arsenal currently have Neto as backup, but he is only on loan from Bournemouth with no obligation or option to buy included in the deal.

The summer sale of Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton suggests that the Gunners might be in the market for another backup when the summer window opens. Zych, who would essentially be a free transfer, could be viewed as a long-term and cost-effective solution for Mikel Arteta’s team, potentially succeeding Raya in upcoming seasons.

If Zych arrived as a number two to learn from Raya and provide competition, with Neto returning to Bournemouth, Arsenal sporting director Edu could use that earmarked budget elsewhere.

The Gunners have been looking to add a new number nine but were unable to sign targets such as Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokores in the summer.

The pair remained with RB Leipzig and Sporting respectively but with some added cash in the bank, Arsenal may reintensify their efforts once more.