Arsenal have left goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny out of the squad for their pre-season tour of Australia and China in order to allow him to complete a move to Juventus, according to the Sun.
The newspaper report on their website that the 29-cap Polish international continues to be firmly out of Arsene Wenger’s plans and will be allowed to join the Champions League runners-up, who view him as a replacement for legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Arsenal confirmed their squad via their official website, and a number of big names were left out alongside Szczesny, including wantaway winger Alexis Sanchez.
However, the two clubs still need to reach an agreement over the transfer fee for the 27-year-old, with two bids of £4million and £7million both reported to have been rejected, with the goalkeeper having just a year left on his contract at the Emirates Stadium.
Szczesny had been a key player in the Arsenal ranks, having come through the youth ranks following his arrival from Legia Warsaw back in 2006, and has gone on to make 181 appearances and keep 72 clean sheets across all competitions since his debut in a 2-0 League Cup victory over West Brom in 2009.
However, he has been outcast by manager Wenger and has not appeared for the Gunners since New Year’s Day in 2015, after he was caught smoking in the showers following a 2-0 defeat to Southampton and fined a reported £20,000.
Szczesny was omitted from the Arsenal squad on Sunday that jetted off on their long-haul trip to the Far East.
He has instead spent the last two seasons on loan at Juventus’ league rivals Roma, establishing himself as their first choice stopper with 81 appearances and 23 clean sheets under his belt.