Arsenal’s 3 options for Ramsdale replacement include former player | OneFootball

Arsenal’s shortlist for a potential summer replacement for Aaron Ramsdale includes former Gunner Wojciech Szczesny, according to a report.

Juventus’ Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny leaves the pitch after suffering a chest pain during the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals first leg football match between Juventus and Sporting CP, on April 13, 2023 at the Juventus stadium in Turin. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Simon Collings reports for The Standard that Arsenal are considering a surprise move to re-sign Wojciech Szczesny from Juventus, as the Gunners look at potential replacements for Aaron Ramsdale.

With Ramsdale losing his place in the Arsenal team and likely leaving the club this summer, the club need a backup for David Raya, and Szczesny is under consideration.

Szczesny would be homegrown, helping Arsenal on that front, and Juventus are looking to sell a goalkeeper this summer.

VERONA, ITALY: Wojciech Szczesny of Juventus greet his fans during the Serie A match between Hellas and Juventus at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on October 30, 2021. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

There are a couple of downsides to a deal. For a start, Szczesny’s high wage demands would be problematic. Then there’s also the question of whether he’d actually want to play a backup role for Arsenal.

Szczesny seemingly left Arsenal in 2017 because he wasn’t guaranteed starts, and that would still be true if he returned now.

Perhaps he’d be more willing to play a backup role as a 34-year-old goalkeeper than at 27, but there are no guarantees. He’ll have his international spot to think about on top of his club football.

Yet Szczesny has repeatedly made it clear he still loves and supports Arsenal, and that he wishes he’d won more with the club.

He was discussing the Gunners’ title chances with Jakub Kiwior on international duty in March, and maybe he could be swayed to follow his heart back to north London.

Arsenal’s Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny reacts. (Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images)

If not, Arsenal have a couple of alternatives on their shortlist. The Standard claim the Gunners could target 33-year-old Jason Steele of Brighton, or 22-year-old Diant Ramaj of Ajax.

Ramaj is seemingly the best fit stylistically and in terms of his age profile, but he might not want to give up his starting spot.

There are almost four months to go until the summer transfer deadline, and no guarantees Ramsdale even leaves. Things could still play out in a number of different ways between now and September.