Wojciech Szczesny one step closer to Juventus after being left home from Arsenal pre-season tour
Polish stopper seen as long-term replacement for Gianluigi Buffon
WOJCIECH SZCZESNY has moved closer to his dream Juventus move after getting left out of Arsenal’s pre-season tour.
The Poland keeper has been allowed to stay behind so a switch to the Italian giants can be sorted.
Juve have targeted Szczesny as Gianluigi Buffon’s long-term successor after tracking his progress on loan at Roma.
Szczesny spent two seasons in the Italian capital before returning at the end of last season but remaining behind Petr Cech in Arsene Wenger’s pecking order.
Buffon says he will retire after the 2018 World Cup in Russia and Juve believe that Szczesny, at 27, has the potential to be their No1 for years.
Szczesny also had Roma wanting a permanent deal and Napoli, Inter Milan and AC Milan also registered interest.
He has a season left on his current deal at the Emirates and Arsenal will let him go when a fee gets agreed with Juventus.
Szczesny played five seasons for Wenger in the Premier League after returning from a loan at Brentford – but there are no clear No 1 slots or him in England which has led to Juve being clear favourites.
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The Polish stopper has just a year left on his deal in north London.
Arsenal have reportedly rejected previous bids of £4million and £7m for the keeper.
Szczesny joined Arsenal’s academy from Legia Warsaw in 2006 and has made a total of 181 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s men since debuting in 2010.
But he hasn't played a Premier League game for the Gunners since being fined £20,000 for smoking in the showers after defeat at Southampton on New Year's Day 2015.
Wenger's squad are travelling to Sydney this week or two friendlies, then travel to China for matches against Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
