Arsenal are in the market for a backup goalkeeper as Aaron Ramsdale heads for the exit door, but their ideal option was unavailable.
Arsenal have agreed a fee with Southampton to sell Ramsdale, but they will need to replace the England International, who lost his place to David Raya last year.
Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, but started on Wednesday night and kept a clean sheet in a tough game away at Atletico Madrid.
However, the Spaniard could end up costing a lot more than what a backup goalkeeper normally moves for, with Espanyol set to hold out for Garcia’s full release clause.
Ideally, Arsenal would find a goalkeeper happy to play a backup role, who would bring quality when needed, and being homegrown would be a bonus.
Wojciech Szczesny fit into this category as the perfect backup goalkeeper, and the former Arsenal academy product was available on a free transfer, but Szczesny announced his shock retirement this week.
Before he made his decision, Arsenal did try to convince him to return to the Emirates.
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Arsenal held talks with Wojciech Szczesny over return in playing and coaching roles
Arsenal Insider can reveal that Arsenal did hold talks with Szczesny throughout the summer, with the Gunners keen on seeing the former Poland International return to North London.
Mikel Arteta realised Szczesny’s experience and homegrown status made him perfect as Ramsdale’s replacement, but they faced a problem.
Szczesny revealed the reason for his retirement was that his “heart is not there anymore,” when it comes to professional football.
Arsenal were so keen on Szczesny that they even considered him for a coaching role as well as a playing one, but it became clear that he wanted to exit the game completely after leaving Juventus.
Wojciech Szczesny would have been perfect for Arsenal this summer
Many will question Arsenal if they do activate Garcia’s release clause. Despite the goalkeeper’s talent, the reported fee of potentially up to £30m is too excessive for a backup option, particularly given the lack of attacking signing this summer.
Fans would have loved to see Szczesny return to the club, nine years since his last appearance for Arsenal, and as a free transfer and a homegrown player, he would have proved to be useful in more ways than one.
Szczesny still has a lot of quality, and started for Poland at Euro 2024. However, he could not be convinced, and it was clear that Arsenal also viewed him as the perfect option this summer before opening talks with Garcia.
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