Wojciech Szczesny set for loan from Arsenal to Roma
Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is poised to seal a loan move to Roma, Goal UK has learned.
The Poland international lost his place to David Ospina for the second half of the 2014-15 Premier League season, although he played in five of Arsenal's six games as they recorded back-to-back FA Cup triumphs.
The Gunners signed Petr Cech from Chelsea for around £11 million ($17 million) earlier this summer, a deal hailed by many as a turning point for Arsene Wenger's side in its quest to win the title for the first time since 2004.
Wenger has now decided that it is Szczesny who will be cut loose ahead of the new campaign, with Ospina and Damian Martinez to provide competition for Cech.
The Gunners boss believes 22-year-old Martinez, who signed from Independiente in 2010, has a bright future at the club.
He even included the Argentine when he claimed last season that there were three "world-class" goalkeepers on the books at the Emirates, a stance he reaffirmed last week ahead of the Londoners' participation in the Asia Trophy.
It is reported in Italy that Roma will pay £281,000 ($437,000) for the loan move, and will retain the option to make the deal permanent.
Szczesny was caught smoking in the locker room following defeat to Southampton at the turn of the year, and while Wenger denied he was dropped as a result, he did not make another Premier League apprance for the rest of the season.
During the final months of the campaign he was urged by former Poland keepers Jan Tomaszewski and Jerzy Dudek to leave the club, and ahead of the FA Cup final victory over Aston Villa the 25-year-old was forced to distance himself from criticism of Wenger by his own father.
He will now move to Roma, where 38-year-old Morgan De Sanctis made 35 league appearances last season.
The Giallorossi finished second in Serie A in 2014-15, 17 points behind champion Juventus.
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