Arsenal transfer news: Wojciech Szczesny to return as Roma rule out permanent deal

Goalkeeper will be back at the Emirates this summer as Serie side decide against keeping him

(Getty Images)

Wojciech Szczesny will return to Arsenal this summer after Roma told Arsene Wenger they do not want to sign the goalkeeper permanently.

Szczesny joined Roma during the summer having hit the headlines after reportedly being caught smoking in the showers after last season’s defeat to Southampton.

He has made 25 appearances for Luciano Spalletti’s side this season. However, Roma this week agreed a deal to sign Internacional’s Brazilian keeper Alisson, meaning the Pole will make a quick return to the Emirates Stadium.

That leaves Szczesny’s future very much in doubt. He is highly unlikely to displace Petr Cech as Arsenal’s No1, and is unlikely to be happy to settle for being Arsenal’s second-choice goalkeeper.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said Szczesny did have a future at the club when he loaned him to Roma. “Szczesny is a top-class goalkeeper. We have three goalkeepers who are top. For one of the keepers, if he can play somewhere that would be good,” Wenger said at the time.

“I believe he will have a future at Arsenal. I personally rate him highly – you do not take a boy and put him in the first team at the age of 20 [if you don’t]. He already has huge experience. I don’t want that experience at such a young age to be wasted.”