Arsenal 27yo closes in on exit | OneFootball

Runar Alex Runarsson is closing in on a move to Turkey, but there’s some debate over whether he’s leaving on loan or permanently.

Following reports earlier this week that formal talks were underway for Runar Alex Runarsson’s move to Antalyaspor, a couple of other sources in the English media have spoken out to confirm the news.

Sam Dean of the Telegraph reports that Runarsson is set for a move to Turkey, whilst Mark Mann-Bryans also claims the goalkeeper should be off to Turkey in the coming days.

But it’s not yet clear whether the deal is a loan or a permanent transfer.

Up until Wednesday, most reports had suggested the move would be a loan, and Dean agrees with that assessment. But Mann-Bryans reports it would be a permanent deal.

It could be that the debate over whether or not to make the deal permanent is part of what’s holding the move up.

The Gunners presumably want a clean break with the goalkeeper, as they have plenty of alternative options between the sticks and it would help them avoid having to negotiate his future again this time next year.

On the other side of things, Antalyaspor would probably prefer the lower-risk option of bringing in the 27-year-old Icelandic international on an initial loan deal.

Runarsson’s last loan to OH Leuven went pretty well, as he played 17 times in Leuven’s last 19 league games, maintaining a respectable save percentage of 71% despite his loan side’s struggles.

The goalkeeper also showed good character, particularly after he was briefly hospitalised with a head injury, returning with a Man of the Match performance in the next game.

That form got him back into the Iceland team. Following a run of seven matches without an appearance, he’s played five of Iceland’s six games since March. Now he’s seemingly looking to push on in Turkey.