adminLONDON . – Roma have made a move to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny on a season-long loan. Arsenal and Roma are in talks over a possible loan deal for Szczesny, according to Sky sources.
Szczesny lost his place as Arsenal’s No. 1 goalkeeper last season following David Ospina’s arrival, and this summer’s signing of Petr Cech has pushed both further from the first team.
Arsene Wenger this month said he would gladly keep both Szczesny and Ospina despite Cech’s arrival, but he did hint at a possible departure when he added: “We have to see if they’re happy as well. We’ll see what happens.”
And it now appears Szczesny could be the man to leave, albeit on loan, with Sky sources suggesting early-stage negotiations with Roma are under way.
The Poland international made his Arsenal debut as a teenager and has started 181 times, but he was displaced by Ospina after compounding two errors in a New Year’s Day defeat at Southampton by smoking in the shower after the game.
The 25-year-old played in the FA Cup final win over Aston Villa in May and insisted shortly afterwards he was “here to stay”.
Szczesny’s Arsenal contract runs for three more years, and any departure would leave Emi Martinez as the club’s No. 3 keeper.
Arsenal’s signing of Petr Cech has pushed Szczesny further down the club’s pecking order, but the Pole does not want to leave the Emirates permanently at this stage.
Similarly, Arsenal manager Wenger still believes Szczesny can be a top goalkeeper so a loan move may well work best for all parties.
Szczesny iswe prepared to stay at the Emirates and fight for his place, but a season playing regular football at Roma will be better for the 25-year-old’s development.
Despite being caught smoking in the dressing room and losing his place to David Ospina last season, Szczesny has not given up on his Arsenal career.
Wenger had been planning to sell Ospina and keep Szczesny, but Roma’s interest could solve his goalkeeping headache as long as the Colombian is prepared to battle with Cech for a first-team place.
Ospina had hinted that he has options to leave Arsenal and appeared to express an interest in potentially joining Everton earlier this summer.
Arsenal also have Martínez on their senior goalkeeping books, but it remains to be seen whether Wenger would allow Szczesny and Ospina to leave, and make the 22-year-old Cech’s deputy.
Szczesny dropped a big hint of his own that he will join Roma for next season by following the club on Instagram and Ashley Cole, who shares the same agent as Szczesny, is already at Roma.
Roma have been looking for a new goalkeeper all summer and their decision to go for Szczesny should smooth the path for Sergio Romero to join Manchester United. – The Telegraph.
Online Reporter