Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could find his future back in his home country after Osasuna were reported to be keen to sign the player.

Almunia has looked an increasingly bit part player with the Gunners this summer after not being involved in the club’s pre-season friendlies. Arsene Wenger claimed that his official number one was under the weather and has played all three of the squad’s back-up goalkeepers have had their opportunities to impress.

Arsenal have reportedly been trying to sign Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer with a £2 million bid having alreayd been turned down and Wenger also admitted that his Spanish goalkeeper has always been exceptional in training but is filled with self-doubt when the big matches start.

The Gunners have not yet decided whether to make a fresh bid for Schwarzer but if Almunia chooses to rebuild his career back in Spain, Wenger may have to move fast for the Australian. The managerial situation at Craven Cottage could also doom any move for Schwarzer as Fulham are unlikely to want to sell any of their players before having a new coach installed. Wenger remains keen on bringing the Australian in as a short term solution though and apparently offered the player a player-coach position to help with the development of the current crop of back-ups the Frenchman has accumulated since the departure of former number one Jens Lehmann.

However, the Gunners are also apparently trying to decide between CSKA Moscow’s Igor Akinfeev and Holland number one Maarten Stekelenburg. Akinfeev has already made public his desire to join the Gunners but it may take some convincing to tempt Stekelenburg away from Ajax.

Tags: Arsenal, English Premier League, La Liga, Manuel Almunia, Osasuna, transfer news