David Ospina has almost certainly played his last game for Arsenal, but hopes of joining Napoli permanently is in doubt.
The 30 year-old is coming to the end of his season-long loan at the Serie A outfit but has found himself in and out of Carlo Ancelotti's side for much of this season, partly due to the competition from youngster Alex Meret.
In recent weeks, the club have stalled over giving Colombia international game time that would force their hand over a transfer.
It is understood that Napoli have agreed a clause in Ospina's loan deal that allows them to purchase for £4million (€4.5m) at any stage during his stay in Naples.
However that optional clause becomes an obligation should Ospina play a required number of games, explaining why he has found himself sidelined in favour of Meret in recent weeks.
football.london understands that Napoli are reluctant to pay the fee they agreed with Arsenal when they took Ospina on loan but hope to be able to negotiate a reduced fee for the Colombian international - who the Gunners have been trying to sell on a permanent basis for several seasons.
For his part Ospina is keen to resolve his future swiftly and hopes to have a definitive decision from Napoli and Arsenal by the end of March.
Napoli manager Ancelotti has made clear the he wants to retain the 30-year-old: "Ospina will remain at Napoli next season, regardless of how many games he plays."
In effect Napoli's sidelining of Ospina is a negotiating tactic and one that he himself has been acutely aware of.
Though his comments to Colombian station Radio Blu - in which he admits he was prepared for the prospect of losing his place to Meret - have been interpreted by some as an admission that he is bound to return to Arsenal that is not the case.
Ospina's contract at Arsenal runs until the summer of 2020 but the Gunners have other plans for their goalkeeping department, with Petr Cech due to retire at the end of the season.
Emiliano Martinez, went to Reading on loan for the second half of the season having been told that he would be promoted to the role of Bernd Leno's understudy. Although there has been links to Valencia's Neto of late.
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