Transfer news: Arsenal target Julio Cesar to stay at Queens Park Rangers, says Luiz Felipe Scolari

Brazil head coach claims the goalkeeper has told him he will stay at QPR

Queens Park Rangers' goalkeeper Julio Cesar had been linked with a move to Arsenal (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal target Julio Cesar will stay at Queens Park Rangers this season, according to Brazil head coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari.

With Cesar on a reported £75,000 per week at Loftus Road, the Championship club were expected to offload the goalkeeper over the summer but the former Chelsea manager says the player has told him he will remain at Loftus Road and Scolari insists that playing in the second tier will not damage his hopes of playing for Brazil at next year’s World Cup. Cesar signed for the club on a four-year contract from Internazionale last August.

“Julio has resolved his matters with the club. Hypothetically, we know where he will play this season,” Scolari said in a press conference to announce his squad to face Australia and Portugal in friendlies next month.

“We’ve talked to him, reaffirmed our trust in him during this week after we talked to his club. We have called him up again because by the end of the transfer window, his situation will be resolved, with him staying on with QPR.”

“After that it will be up to his manager to play him or not.”

The 33-year-old, who won the Champions League in 2010 with Inter, had betting suspended by one bookmaker last month on a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.