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How Arsenal cult hero Wojciech Szczesny almost joined Bolton in shock transfer… but was rejected in £100k deal

BOLTON turned down the chance to sign Wojciech Szczęsny for a bargain £100,000.

The Poland keeper, 32, has won Serie A three times with Juventus as well as two FA Cups at Arsenal.

Bolton turned down the chance to sign Wojciech Szczęsny

They also rejected Lukasz Fabianski

The club has Jussi Jaaskelainen as their first choice


Bolton also signed Ali Al-Habsi on a free transfer

But the Trotters rejected Szczesny as well as fellow countryman and West Ham stopper Lukasz Fabiański in cut-price deals at the start of their careers.

Bolton’s former goalkeeper coach Fred Barber said: “I had Fabianski and Sczcesny on trial at Bolton. But the club didn’t pay for keepers then.

“We wouldn’t pay £100,000 for Sczcesny or £50,000 for Fabianski.

“We had Jussi (Jaaskelainen) and Ali Al-Habsi and they were both free.”

Both of the Polish goalkeepers moved to Arsenal within a year of each other and competed for the starting spot.

Szczesny has gone on to have a glittering career and is still at Juventus.

However, he recently had to leave the field after reportedly suffering heart problems during the clash against Sporting in the Europa League.

Thankfully, Juventus later sent out a brief tweet confirming that at first indication, the goalkeeper appears to be fine.

Whereas Fabianksi left Arsenal in 2014 for Swansea and after four years, moved to West Ham.

At the Hammers he has gone on to become a cult hero, having won the club’s player of the season award in his debut campaign.

He is still the first-choice goalkeeper at the Hammers after seeing off competition from Alphonse Areola.