Gunners will now have to look elsewhere for a new keeper.
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Napoli appear to have beaten Arsenal to the signature of Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar this summer, according to reports in the Mail on Sunday.
The highly rated Brazil international has been the subject of a transfer tug of war in recent weeks as both the north London club and their Serie A counterparts have gone head to head for the shot stopper’s services.
The 33-year-old has only been at Loftus Road since the beginning of last season, after QPR head coach Harry Redknapp brought the player to west London from Italian giants Inter Milan on a four-year deal.
However, despite shining in 26 matches overall in all competitions for the struggling top-flight outfit, including in 24 contests in the Premier League, Cesar’s form between the sticks in the capital was still not enough to prevent Redknapp’s men from being relegated to the Championship come May.
As a result, QPR owner Tony Fernandes is said to be desperate to get the Brazilian’s exorbitant weekly salary off the club’s wage bill now that they will no longer be playing in the Premier League next campaign, although it is expected that Cesar will initially only sign a season-long deal with the Naples-based club.