- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands Arsenal are interested in bringing Wojciech Szczesny back to the club this summer.
Arsenal are allowing Aaron Ramsdale to leave ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window opening, so they are looking at options to come in as number two to first-choice David Raya – who is arriving on a permanent deal from Brentford following his successful loan spell.
Raya kept 16 clean sheets in his debut campaign at Arsenal – three more than second-placed Jordan Pickford at Everton.
But it wasn’t enough as Mikel Arteta watched his players miss out on the Premier League title to Manchester City on the final day of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
Wojciech Szczesny fits homegrown talent for Arsenal
HITC understands that Arsenal have looked at young English talent, such as Euro 2024 hopeful for England James Trafford and Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson, as well as experienced Brighton’s back-up keeper, Jason Steele.
However, they are paying close attention to Wojciech Szczesny’s situation at Juventus. The Italian giants are set to finalise the capture of Monza’s Michele Di Gregorio – who enjoyed a brilliant campaign in Serie A last season.
Juve also have Mattia Perin in their ranks, so they are likely to allow Szczesny to leave.
The 34-year-old is an intriguing option for Arsenal given that he qualifies as a homegrown player for them. He spent more than a decade with the north London giants at the start of his career after joining them as a young teenager.
The Poland international played 181 games for the club, picking up two FA Cup winners medals, before permanently departing for Turin in 2017.
There is interest from the Saudi Pro League in Szczesny too, but it is believed he could be tempted with a move back to England.
Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson could leave Arsenal
The Gunners could be losing a number of their homegrown first-teamers, with Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson looking likely to depart, so bringing one back is an interesting option.
Sources told HITC in April that four Premier League clubs want to sign Nketiah, but they value their striker at £40 million.
READ MORE: Manchester United star backed to secure shocking transfer to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal
Nketiah played 27 Premier League games last term, scoring five goals, with three of them coming against bottom-of-the-table, Sheffield United.
As for Smith Rowe, he played less than 400 minutes and injuries have stalled his progress in recent years, with some suggesting that he is ‘too good’ to be sitting on Arsenal’s bench.
The same applies for Nelson. He played fewer minutes than Smith Rowe, so the writing seems to be on the wall for all three players.
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