A permanent switch to AS Roma this summer seems inevitable for Wojciech Szczesny as the Arsenal loanee confirmed talks are on-going between the clubs, according to the Metro.
The Poland international moved to the Serie A outfit on a season-long loan in July 2015 after losing his starting place to David Ospina- a summer recruit from Nice in 2014- following a drop in form and the subsequent addition of Petr Cech from Chelsea last summer drove him further down the pecking order.
Also reported by the Belfasttelegraph and the Mirror, the 26-year-old has reiterated his desire to make his loan deal at Roma a permanent one, having enjoyed a successful spell so far with the Italian club this season and no assurance of regaining his starting position at the Emirates next season.
Confirming the latest development, the goalkeeper told I1 Messaggero: “I want to stay. It’s not all up to me, obviously. I want it to happen, and I know Roma and Arsenal are talking about it, so we will see what happens. I’m happy to have helped the team and winning the title must be the next objective for this club.”
Szczesny joined Arsenal as a youth in 2006 and broke into the first-team in the middle of 2010/2011 season. He made 181 appearances in all competitions for the club and won the FA Cup twice in his last two seasons at the club. He was however limited to FA Cup matches for most of last season as Arsene Wenger favoured Ospina for Premier League games.
He has since regained his form and has been impressive between the sticks for Roma this season, helping them to the third position on the Serie A table with just two points needed secure to place in the Champions League next season.
It remains to be seen whether the player would love to make a return to Emirates stadium. Should he return he will have to contend with the likes of Petr Cech and David Ospina for the no. 1 spot. His contract with the Gunners ends this summer which shows that Wenger never wanted to extend the player’s stay at the club.
Having confirmed his undying love for Arsenal, on numerous occasions, series of lackluster performances and dressing room misdemeanor meant that he would fall down the pecking order in the goalkeeping department.
With his reported move out of the club, the fans who are enamored of Szczesny will definitely miss the player who joined the club as a cheeky 16-year-old.
