Wojciech Szczesny has a future at Arsenal despite his impending loan move to Roma, insists manager Arsene Wenger.
The Gunners boss is prepared to allow the 25-year-old goalkeeper to leave on a temporary basis, having signed Petr Cech from rivals Chelsea at the start of the summer.
Wenger confirmed a season-long loan move to Roma is edging closer for Szczesny, who hit the headlines for the wrong reasons last season by reportedly being caught smoking in the showers following defeat at Southampton.
Szczesny was at fault for both goals in that 2-0 loss on New Year's Day and soon lost his place to David Ospina, having had previous form for smoking.
Now he is set to leave the Emirates Stadium - but Wenger wants to see him return and believes a player he has shown faith in for some time can still produce the goods for Arsenal.
"He could go on loan to Roma. We are pretty much done - it is down to paperwork," Wenger confirmed when asked about Szczesny's future.
"As long as that is not over the line, anything can happen. Szczesny is a top-class goalkeeper we have three goalkeepers who are top. For one of the keepers, if he can play somewhere that would be good.
"I believe he will have a future at Arsenal. I personally rate him highly - you do not take a boy and put him in the first team at the age of 20.
"He already has huge experience. I don't want that experience at such a young age to be wasted."
"That is a question that comes to your mind," Wenger said when asked about retaining Szczesny.
"How much can he grow with Petr Cech next to him, who is happy to share his huge experience, and how much mentally will he be able to live with the fact that he doesn't play regularly. It is a position that, if you are number two or three, it is more difficult.
"I believe that there are two aspects in a decision. Does it give you a chance to make the squad better or is it against some of the performances of your players?
"In this case I was just questioning if it makes us stronger as a unit, and it has a chance to do that. It was not against Ospina or Szczesny."
Rafael Benitez is confident captain Sergio Ramos and striker Karim Benzema will remain at Real Madrid, amid reports linking the pair with English clubs.
Ramos is reportedly at the centre of a tug of war between the Spanish giants and Manchester United, with rumours suggesting the defender wants a switch to the Barclays Premier League.
Madrid have been at pains to knock back suggestions one of the star players will be leaving the Bernabeu and Benitez has reiterated the club's stance.
Speaking after the 4-1 International Champions Cup win over Manchester City in Melbourne, Benitez told reporters: "Sergio has known from day one that I want him to stay and I'm sure that he'll stay with us."
The former Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss was also optimistic of Benzema remaining in the Spanish capital, despite reported interest from Arsenal.
Benitez added: "People are asking me about different players that maybe we will buy and I always say the same thing, 'he's not our player, I will not talk about that'.
"In this case Karim is our player so I will not talk about that. I hope, I'm sure, that he will stay with us."
Lyon coach Hubert Fournier has warned suitors that he expects sought-after forward Alexandre Lacazette tostay at the club.
The 24-year-old France international has been attracting attention from across Europe and has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
One club reportedly showing an interest is Arsenal, with the Gunners taking on Lyon in the Emirates Cup on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the match, Fournier insisted Lacazette is happy at the Stade de Gerland and will be an important part of a Lyon squad which will be looking for success in all competitions having finished second to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 last year.
When asked where he saw Lacazette playing this season, Fournier said: "Olympique Lyonnais. I haven't got much to say. He has said he wants to stay with us.
"Of course some clubs are going to be attracted to the sort of player he is but he is under contract at Lyon and with all of the different competitions we have this season with the Champions League and the domestic French cups, we obviously want to keep him at the club."
Watford are set to make their 10th signing of the summer with the addition of Dutch forward Steven Berghuis from AZ Alkmaar.
Berghuis agreed personal terms with Watford last week but the transfer was held up while the clubs negotiated a fee.
Press Association Sport understands AZ have now accepted a bid close to £4.6million for the player and that Berghuis will arrive in London today to undergo a medical.
The 23-year-old forward was AZ's star player last season, scoring 11 goals in 22 league appearances, and he also attracted interest from Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven this summer.
The move will take the Hornets' summer signings into double figures after Jose Manuel Jurado, Miguel Britos, Sebastian Prodl, Giedrius Arlauskis, Matej Vydra, Jose Holebas, Etienne Capoue, Valon Behrami and Allan Nyom all penned permanent deals at Vicarage Road.
QPR manager Chris Ramsey admits Charlie Austin is likely to leave the club this summer.
Austin, who hit 18 Premier League goals last season, has been linked with moves to Newcastle, Leicester, West Ham and Crystal Palace.
But relegated Rangers have already turned down big-money bids and are holding out for more than £15million for the 26-year-old striker.
Ramsey told talkSPORT: "We have to be realistic. It's unlikely he'll stay. We want to keep him but it's unlikely.
"The club is in a financial position that it needs to recoup some money and I think for his ambitions he wants to keep playing in the Premier League to go to the Euros.
"We've been offered £12million and turned it down so we're looking in excess of £15million. Goalscoring is something you can't coach, it's just a habit that some people have."
