Arsenal linked with stunning move for former goalkeeper
- Arsenal braced for departure of backup goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale this summer
- Gunners want homegrown replacement; Szczesny on list of possible candidates
- Newcastle leading race to sign Ramsdale, Chelsea also linked
By Tom Gott
Arsenal are considering a move to re-sign goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny from Juventus as they prepare to bid farewell to Aaron Ramsdale, a report has claimed.
Ramsdale lost his spot in the starting lineup to on-loan stopper David Raya early in the season and, with Arsenal set to sign the Golden Glove winner permanently this summer, Ramsdale is expected to leave in search of first-team football.
According to the Evening Standard, Arsenal want a homegrown goalkeeper to replace Ramsdale and help them meet squad registration requirements, and that has seen them express an interest in recruiting Szczesny.
Szczesny, now 34, joined Arsenal's youth setup back in 2006 and therefore meets the homegrown requirements, and his future at Juventus is increasingly uncertain as the Serie A giants plot a move for Monza's Michele Di Gregorio.
Just whether Szczesny, whose contract still has one year left to run, would be prepared to return to the Emirates as cover for Raya is currently unclear, and so Arsenal are looking at a handful of other options.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Jason Steele is also under consideration, while Ajax's Diant Ramaj, who would not meet homegrown requirements, is admired by those in charge at Arsenal.
Arsenal are wary of losing a number of homegrown talents this summer. 90min understands striker Eddie Nketiah could be made available if a new striker is signed, while Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson both face uncertain futures.
With Ramsdale also expected to leave - Newcastle United are reportedly leading the race to sign the goalkeeper - Arsenal will need more players nurtured in England to meet the Premier League's squad registration rules.
Teams are required to register a minimum of eight homegrown players in their squads and lose one space in their 25-player squad for each homegrown role they fail to fill.
Raya is eligible after coming through the Blackburn academy, as is backup stopper Karl Hein. Ben White, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka also count as homegrown talents.
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