Ben Foster has stated that he would be interested in joining either Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal or Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa this summer.
The Cycling goalkeeper’s contract with Watford expires at the end of this month, but he has no plans to retire just yet, despite being 39 years old.
Foster is still as fit as ever, and he is searching for a new club ahead of the summer transfer window.
When asked if clubs might no longer consider him a first-choice goalkeeper, the £30,000-a-week Englishman admitted that he’s now ready to be a backup to a world-class goalkeeper. He mentioned Arsenal and stated that he would love to be Arteta’s number two behind Aaron Ramsdale.
The soon-to-be-free agent said on his Fozcast podcast: “If I’m signing for a club as a number two goalkeeper, it depends on the first-choice goalkeeper.
“Say Arsenal or Aston Villa, where the first-choice goalkeeper I know is a world-class goalkeeper – Ramsdale or Martinez – I know I have a world-class goalkeeper in front of me, who’s still at an age where they are learning and they can get there because they’ve got the potential.
“At that point, I will go ‘I’m going to help you maximize your ability and make sure you become an absolute monster or beast’.
“I’d love to be able to do that. I would love to do that.”
Bernd Leno is set to leave Arsenal this summer, and the club will need to find a replacement.
Matt Turner of the New England Revolution is on his way to replace the German, and he is expected to be the Gunners’ second choice goalkeeper at the start of next season.
Having someone with Foster’s experience around Ramsdale would be a good idea. The two get along great, and the Watford goalkeeper has seen it all in goal over the last two decades, which could be extremely beneficial to this young Arsenal squad.
However, the Gunners are unlikely to even consider Foster this summer, despite the fact that he is ready to be the number two and is available on a free transfer.
