Sporting Goalkeeper Says Goodbyes Amid Growing Arsenal Interest

Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio has given a clear indication that he will leave the club this summer as reported interest from Arsenal continues to grow.

The Gunners were believed to have made tentative enquiries into the 25-year-old's availability since last January, but were told that any deal for the shot stopper must wait until the summer.

It would appear that the Portuguese club are now willing to cash in on their number one goalkeeper after Sporting's Marcelo Boeck, the man who is primed to replace Patricio next season, revealed the Gunners target has already said his goodbyes to his teammates ahead of a move to a new club.

"He is at a very good level," Boeck is quoted as saying inDiario de Noticias. "And if the proposal is very good, as I believe it to be in a club that gives its full support for it to evolve in his career, he has to take it.

"He loves the fans and the club, but it is time to take on this challenge. On the last day together, the last time there was a farewell between us, he said goodbye to me and colleagues."

Portuguese newspaper Record also suggest Sporting are now ready to listen to offers for the goalkeeper who has been the club's undisputed first choice in goal since 2008.

Arsenal have been credited with keen interest since the January transfer window, and having had an offer of €10m turned down by the club earlier in the season, could now return given their greater financial backing.

Arsene Wenger utilised all three of his goalkeeping options in Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone last season due to injury and loss of form hitting each of the trio.

Neither of the three were capable of proving to the Gunners boss last season that they are ready to be the club's number one custodian for years to come. Having retained that role at Sporting since he was barely out of his teens and having amassed 23 caps for Portugal, Patricio could represent a solution to a problematic area within Wenger's side.