Arsenal close in on QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar

Arsenal will look to complete the signing of Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar after the Confederations Cup.

Arsene Wenger wants an experienced goalkeeper to provide competition for Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny.

Talks between Cesar’s representatives and Gunners chiefs have already taken place, but negotiations have been put on hold due to the keeper’s international commitments.

The Gunners are now actively trying to complete the swoop after Italian side Roma joined the race to land Cesar.

The Brazil international, who is free to leave Loftus Road following QPR’s relegation into the Championship, is keen to stay in London having settled in the capital since his arrival from Inter Milan last summer.

And the Gunners - who hope to complete the signing of Gonzalo Higuain next week after Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti cleared the way for the striker to leave Spain - are confident a deal can be completed after Sunday’s Confederations Cup final.

Wenger has considered moves for Stoke’s Asmir Begovic and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina but, despite having a £70million transfer kitty, the Arsenal manager would rather not spend a significant chunk of his warchest on a keeper.

Rangers will listen to offers of around £2million for Cesar, while his £70,000-per-week wages will not be a problem for the Gunners, who have dispatched scouts to Brazil to monitor Cesar’s displays in the Confederations Cup.

In addition to Cesar and Higuain, the Gunners are also actively pursuing Swansea defender Ashley Williams and Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini.