Arsenal planning summer move for Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow

Arsenal are being strongly linked with a summer move for Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow.

The Netherlands international, 26, was wanted by Manchester United and had tabled a £22million bid last summer. However, a move didn’t happen and the Red Devils ended up signing Andre Onana from Inter Milan. Justin Bijlow could now be available for around £10million as he has only two years left on his contract at Feyenoord and has endured a couple of injury setbacks, meaning he is no longer the Dutch No.1.

The Gunners are in the market for a new goalkeeper as they are set to bid goodbye to Aaron Ramsdale in the summer transfer window. They want a strong No.2 to compete with first-choice goalkeeper David Raya next season. Justin Bijlow has reportedly emerged as a target for Arsenal but could face competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool, with incoming Reds’ boss Arne Slot also interested.

Bijlow has impressed in the Eredivisie and won the league title under Arne Slot at Feyenoord. Slot admires the Dutchman’s talent but feels he may have other targets to accomplish and areas to reinforce when the transfer window reopens next month.

Feyenoord shot-stopper Justin Bijlow on Arsenal radar

Arsenal are set to sign David Raya permanently from Brentford for around £30m after his strong season-long loan at the Emirates Stadium. Raya bagged the Premier League’s Golden Glove award for most clean sheets after ousting Ramsdale as Arsenal’s No.1 in the recently concluded 2023/24 campaign.

As a result, Ramsdale is expected to leave the club, but as he has three years remaining on his contract, loaning him for a season remains a possibility, although both parties may prefer a permanent move. Ramsdale, who managed only six Premier League outings this past season, has been the subject of a £15million bid from Newcastle United. Should the England international leave, the Gunners need a back-up goalkeeper and Justin Bijlow appears to be a fine fit.

Bijlow is among the highly rated shot-stoppers in the Netherlands, can play out from the back, is commanding and has an excellent save ratio as well as being proficient in 1v1 situations. He has played 143 times for Feyenoord, has Champions League experience and collected eight caps for his national team. The 26-year-old has been named in the Netherlands’ preliminary squad for Euro 2024.

Despite sustaining two wrist fractures and a calf injury since the beginning of 2023, Bijlow has still managed to make 24 appearances for Feyenoord in 2023/24, keeping nine clean sheets in the process. The Rotterdam-born star is high on Arsenal’s shortlist of goalkeepers and it remains to be seen whether the north London club intensify their efforts to sign him in the next weeks and months.