DONE DEAL: Ospina agrees to four-year Arsenal contract

EXCLUSIVE

By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

David Ospina has agreed a four-year Arsenal contract and will join the club after their tour of the United States, Goal can reveal.

The Colombia goalkeeper will complete his move from Nice, which is worth £3.5 million including add-ons, when he returns from holiday next week.

ARSENAL LATEST

7/4 Arsenal are bet365 to finish at the top London club this season

Arsenal were keen for Ospina, 25, to undertake his medical this week and then link up with the squad ahead of their friendly against New York Red Bulls on Friday, the only match of their US tour.

But the Gunners will have to wait to officially wrap up the deal for the keeper, who performed so impressively during the World Cup.

Nevertheless, there are only the formalities to be completed after Ospina agreed the terms of a four-year contract worth £60,000-a-week.

The keeper has also spoken to Arsene Wenger about his role next season, when he will be given the opportunity to challenge Wojciech Szczesny for the No.1 spot.

The imminent capture of Ospina follows the arrivals of Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy this summer and takes Wenger’s spending towards the £45m mark.

As revealed by Goal, Arsenal have opened talks with Southampton about a £15m move for midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, although they face strong competition for him from Tottenham.

Wenger has also held extensive discussions with Atletico Madrid over a loan deal for Javier Manquillo, but the deal for the Spanish right-back is currently on the backburner and they are ready to pursue alternatives.

With a second right-back set to sign for Arsenal, Carl Jenkinson is expected to be sent out on loan to West Ham for the forthcoming season in order to play regular first-team football.

The expected signing of another senior international keeper will also provide strong competition for Szczesny, who was regularly the No.1 choice in both the Premier League and Champions League last season but was overlooked for the club's successful FA Cup campaign.

Wenger moved for Ospina after Arsenal failed to agree a fee for David Marshall during talks with Cardiff City.

Ospina is regarded as good value given his experience and the Gunners were able to negotiate a lower fee as he only has a year remaining on his Nice contract.