Roma want Szczesny but expect Arsenal hard ball

Roma director of football Walter Sabatini believes it will be “difficult” to buy Wojciech Szczesny from Arsenal at the end of his loan deal.

Szczesny is on a season-long loan at the Stadio Olimpico but revealed earlier this month that it was still his “dream” to establish himself as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Roma would like to keep the 25-year-old beyond the end of the season, but Sabatini is not hopeful of agreeing a deal with Arsenal.

“We are working on it and would like to keep Szczesny, but knowing Arsenal it will be difficult to achieve that,” he told reporters.

“In any case, Roma are already covered in that role for next season. Who did we get? I will never tell you that!”

Lukas Podolski, meanwhile, has again expressed his disappointment that he was not afforded more opportunities at Emirates Stadium.

“This is a question for the coach. I was good, had good records of goals and assists, but the coach went with someone else,” Podolski has told Portuguese publication A Bola when asked why he did not start more games.

“But what frustrates is when you sit on the bench and you feel you can help the team score, make assists. That’s why I spoke to the club and moved.”

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