Polish international goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is close to completing his transfer to Juventus having been left out of Arsenal’s summer tour.
The ex-Roma keeper enjoyed a strong 2016/17 season and caught the eye of Bianconeri directors during his loan spell at the capital club. As such, it’s reported that Juve approached the player and agreed personal terms before beginning negotiations with Arsenal.
The departure of Gigi’s understudy, Brazilian keeper Neto, in a €7m move to Valencia, was seen as a big indicator that a replacement signing was not far off.
Emil Audero’s loan to Venezia only reinforced the idea that a new goalkeeper would be signed very soon, and it looks as though Juventus have secured their man.
With the focus on Europe next season, it’s entirely possible that Juve may rotate further, using Buffon primarily in the Champions League, where Juve will be big betting favourites, while Szczesny could be used in the league more often.
With Buffon confirming that he will hang up his gloves at the end of the upcoming season, it’s widely reported that Szczesny will play second-fiddle to the veteran keeper for 12 months, before taking up the role of first-choice keeper in the 2018/19 campaign.
The 27-year-old keeper hasn’t been included in the Arsenal squad as they embark on a pre-season tour of Australia and China, which only compounds the idea that he will be moving clubs soon.
With only a year left on his Arsenal contract, it’s suggested that Juve might get Szczesny for a figure close to €18m and in the UK, The Sun report that the keeper has been deliberately left out of the squad as Juve and Arsenal are on the verge of completing a deal.
Over in Italy, the reliable Sky Sport Italia journalist Fabrizio Romano reveals an exclusive, reporting that the Bianconeri and Szczesny have reached a full agreement and the Arsenal keeper ‘feels like a Juventus player’ already. The figures haven’t been revealed, but it seems safe to say that the Polish keeper is not far from being confirmed as a new signing.
