Austrian club in talks with Arsenal over extending Super Eagles-eligible goalkeeper's loan

A day after Premier League table toppers Arsenal announced that Super Eagles-eligible goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has been loaned out to SK Sturm Graz, the Austrian Bundesliga side revealed that they have started making plans to extend his stay with Die Schwoazn.

Sporting Director of Sturm Graz Andreas Schicker has explained why the Hale End Academy graduate moved to the Bundesliga club initially until the summer. 

Sturm Graz are eager to retain the services of Okonkwo beyond June 2023 with a second successive loan planned for the entirety of the 2023-2024 season, Schicker has confirmed. 

Fifa's new loan regulation that came into effect in July 2022 states that the maximum duration of a loan deal is one year. 

Schicker revealed that talks with Arsenal over extending Okonkwo's loan deal are moving in the right direction. 

"Discussions with Arsenal are already going well and are going very well," Schicker said to Kleine Zeitung, via laola1. 

Schicker added that Okonkwo was not signed on a permanent basis due to business considerations as the chances of selling goalkeepers for a profit are low. 

The 21-year-old traveled with his new teammates to a training camp in Turkey on Monday. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : arsenal.com 

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