Arsenal Boss Makes Personal Approach To Casillas Over Summer Move

Arsene Wenger personally phoned Iker Casillas in a bid to get the Real Madrid keeper to solve the Arsenal manager's goalkeeping crisis at the Emirates.

The Spanish stopper's future at the Santiago Bernabeu has been under increasing scrutiny in recent months.

Casillas lost his place in Real Madrid's line-up under Jose Mourinho and last season was restricted to appearances in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey – with Diego Lopez preferred by Carlo Ancelotti's in La Liga.

Even though Casillas was a winner in both tournaments some pundits have started to question whether he has already gone beyond his best.

Nevertheless, the 33-year-old keeper committedf a serious error in the Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid and produced some erratic form at the World Cup when conceding five goals in the opening game against Holland.

Manchester City and Arsenal have been linked with his services during the season and now Mundo Deportivo claims the Gunners have stepped up the battle for his services.

Wenger believes Casillas would be a perfect replacement for Lukasz Fabianski challenging Wojciech Szczesny for the number one.

Meanwhile, the Spaniard is yet to make a final decision over his future. Reports in Spain claim that Real Madrid have already approached Benfica youngster Jan Oblak and World Cup sensation Keylor Navas should the legend finally move on.

Earlier this season, Gunners midfielder Santi Cazorla revealed he had advised Casillas to join him at the Emirates Stadium this summer.

"I've told him [I would like him to join Arsenal] but so far he has just been curious about my experience in England," said Cazorla.

"His situation is very complicated but he has to make a decision. Lots of clubs want him, including Arsenal, but I think it would be very difficult to leave Real Madrid because of what the club represents. He knows what he has [at Madrid] and what he could find at another club."