Earlier in the week it was reported that Wojciech Szczesny was supposedly closing in on a permanent deal with his current club AS Roma. The Italian side were reportedly considering making Arsenal a £15 million offer they simply couldn’t refuse, in order to keep the Polish shotstopper beyond his current season long loan.
Szczesny is no stranger to Italian football, given that the goalkeeper has been in Roma’s net consistently for the past 18 months. A successful loan spell last season saw the Serie A side make another loan offer to Arsenal for the 2016/17 season. But now they are looking to end that loan deal early in order to keep the player on a permanent basis.
The reports earlier in the week seemed to suggest that a bid of £15 million was already on the table for Arsenal, but from the players point of view, there’s still much further to go. Szczesny told the media about his current transfer conundrum, by stating: “My future? I would also like to know where I will be. The truth is that it’s in the hands of Wenger, the coach and man in whose hands [my career has been] since I was 16.”
“I’m happy and satisfied that two clubs are [interested] in my performances – one that wants to [keep me] and the other that wants me to come back.”
Szczesny therefore has two clubs fighting for him, with Roma of course being the buyer; but Arsenal want to keep him once his current loan deal is up. Szczesny was dropped from the Arsenal side before Cech made his move to North London. It wasn’t as if the Czech goalkeeper took the Polish shotstoppers place in the team, because he’d already been in and out of the side due to inconsistencies on the pitch and being in the spotlight off it.
Personally I’m not surprised to hear that Wenger intends on keeping Szczesny beyond this season. I always imagined that the goalkeeper would return to the Gunners to fight for his place after a loan spell away. Especially considering we can’t imagine having too many years of an on form Petr Cech between our sticks. Whether Szczesny wants to return to Arsenal however, remains another topic of discussion.
I think with Ospina quite likely looking to leave in the summer, a return for Szczesny may be on the cards. But if Roma did make that £15 million bid, surely it would be tough for Wenger to turn down?
AH
we don’t learn our lessons? bringing back deadwood will always make us average and favorites to win the Wenger trophy. we have seen how bad he was, still the same and the team want to bring him back? Learn to move on Arsenal, bringing back the Flaminis and co. won’t solve our 13 (and counting) years crisis
Do your research szezney has been one of the most impressive gk across Europe
But not world class, and still pretty error prone. He’s better than he was before he left but that’s it. Rather have Cech any day
spot on. Szczesny is not world class and not better than Cech, so may as well make a profit off of him. Arsenal need to get real, only add players to the squad that will vastly improve us. Enough sentiment for players like Szczesny, Jenkinson, Ox, and even Wilshere.
Give the lad a go at being number 2 next season behind P. Cech if Ospina goes. He may well have improved and a year watching Cechs focus and determination could prove invaluable. You don’t play for 18 months as nos. 1 for Roma if u r not that good!
sell him and insert a buy-back clause like we did Cesc n Vela.