Wojciech Szczesny waits on Arsenal bid that shouldn’t arrive

Lille have just won Ligue 1 in magnificent fashion and with the celebrations still ongoing, their side is being picked apart. Mike Maignan is the first of an expected exodus, heading to AC Milan, opening the door for Gianluigi Donnarumma to join Juventus, which leaves Wojciech Szczesny wanting a move to Arsenal.

Every summer there is a transfer merry-go-round in which one departure (or acquisition depending if you’re a glass half full person or not) sparks a chain reaction across Europe. It famously happened with Arsenal in January 2018 as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s arrival from Borussia Dortmund meant Chelsea could sign Olivier Giroud and the German side could sign Michy Batshuayi.

That quite neatly worked for everyone.

In this case, Wojciech Szczesny is to be pushed out of the Juventus door with Donnarumma due to take up the number one slot in Turin as the long-term successor for Gianluigi Buffon.

Wojciech Szczesny waits on Arsenal bid that shouldn’t arrive from Mikel Arteta in summer transfer window

Just as with the clamour from some fans to want 30-year-old injury prone and sky-high wages Aaron Ramsey to return, a potential romantic reunion with the Polish keeper has also been mooted.

Calcio Mercato have added fuel to ongoing fires by revealing that the 31-year-old has turned down Dortmund’s approaches as he seeks a Premier League return, ideally to Arsenal. That would involve Bernd Leno being sold, which while would work if a cheaper alternative can be sourced – some have been rumoured – doesn’t seem likely with no links elsewhere since the season concluded.

This window has no room for sentiment, this ignoring the fact that Szczesny is older than Leno; on high wages; has a contract until 2024; had an average season in general and wouldn’t be a considerable upgrade on the German for the long-term.

Arsenal can’t be making decisions for the future by leaning on answers from their past. Just because Szczesny classes as homegrown and knows the club is not reason enough to bring him back.

If you have a scar that needs healing you don’t reuse old bandages. This isn’t a window for popular decisions. It needs to be cutthroat and even the consideration of someone like Szczesny has to be removed from the thinking.

Ramsey and Szczesny may want Arsenal returns, but the club shouldn’t welcome such desires. Fortunately they aren’t in the pipeline, yet. It’s a rebuild, not a use-old-parts-build