Arsenal & Liverpool Eye Petr Cech As Blues Boss Lines-Up Surprise Replacement

The January transfer window is now closed but that won’t stop the newspapers from speculating ahead of the summer so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Arsenal and Liverpool eye Petr Cech as Chelsea line-up replacements…

Chelsea have started to identify potential replacements for Arsenal and Liverpool target Petr Cech in-case the goalkeeper demands a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, according to the Telegraph.

Cech has been at Chelsea for over ten years since joining the club from Rennes in 2004 and up until this season, he’s been a regular fixture in the Blues starting eleven and played a key role in winning a number of honours including three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League.

However, the 32-year-old has been axed from the first team this campaign with Jose Mourinho naming Thibaut Courtois as his number one in the league and in Europe after the Belgian youngster enjoyed a hugely impressive spell on loan at Atletico Madrid last season.

Chelsea have done their best to try and give Cech as much action as possible and Mourinho surprisingly started him in Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Tottenham, but it remains to be seen whether the Czech international will be persuaded to stay-on beyond the summer or push for a move in search of more regular first team football.

The Telegraph claim that Arsenal and Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Cech’s situation and are ready to offer him the chance to remain in the Premier League if he does want a new challenge this summer.

Arsene Wenger is believed to be considering his goalkeeping options after axing Wojciech Szczesny following a disappointing season for the Polish international and the Gunners could certainly do with an experienced head like Cech between the sticks.

Simon Mignolet has found some form in recent weeks but Brendan Rodgers is still expected to bring in another keeper at the end of the season and the Liverpool boss would surely jump at the chance of luring Cech to Anfield if given half the chance.

It’s unclear how Chelsea would feel about selling a player like Cech to one of their main domestic rivals but the Telegraph claims that Mourinho has already started looking for potential replacements in-case his No.2 demands a move with Brad Friedel and Robert Green the shock names on his hit-list.

It’s understood that if Cech does leave then the Portuguese boss would want a player to come in who has plenty of experience of English football and both Friedel and Green would fit the bill – although they would both be a huge step down in quality from the long-serving Czech stopper.

I personally think Cech will look to secure a move this summer as a player of his quality, at his age, certainly needs to be a No.1 and I think he’d be the perfect signing for either Arsenal or Liverpool if they could pull it off.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mourinho attempts to flog him abroad and will only consider selling to the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool if Cech himself indicates that he wants to remain in England.

That could be a possibility as he and his family and lived in London for 11 years and have shown no sign of being unsettled, so a move within the Premier League can’t be ruled out.