Paris Saint-Germain shot stopper Alphonse Areola has reportedly completed a medical with Real Madrid ahead of his purported transfer. The 26-year-old goalie is joining the Bernabeu outfit on loan as part of a swap deal which will see Keylor Navas heading in the opposite direction.
After his promotion to the first team in 2013 which was followed by one loan spell after the other, Areola became Les Parisians main man in post for the last three seasons. The former academy graduate has achieved a decent amount of success with the Parc des Princes outfit, winning three Ligue 1 titles as well as two Coupe de France and two Coupe de la Ligue trophies.
Ahead of the closure of this summer's transfer window, the Frenchman has responded to the need to cut short his stay with PSG after being told by Thomas Tuchel that he will not be his first-choice goalkeeper for long. The reigning Ligue 1 champions have already had to deal with the departure of veteran shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon and have identified wantaway Real Madrid goalie Keylor Navas as a more capable replacement.
Meanwhile Areola is set to be out of PSG for the reminder of the season after being omitted from the squad that won 2-0 win at Metz on Friday. The 26-year-old Frenchman was in post for Les Parisians in their in the first three league fixtures.
According to El Chiringuito, the goalkeeper arrived in Spain on Saturday ahead of his Real Madrid move and completed the medicals on Sunday. The swap is expected to be fully concluded on Monday's transfer deadline day.
Areola will be lined up as Thibaut Courtois' back-up after he completes his international duties with France. The shot-stopper who won gold with Deschamp's side at Russia 2018 has been invited among the squad for the upcoming EURO 2020 qualifiers against Albanian and Andorra.
