Arsenal

Petr Cech To Snub Liverpool For Arsenal Move As Keeper Wants To Stay In London

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to snub a potential move to Liverpool in favour of joining Arsenal as he and his family are settled in London.

by
Fraser Crawford
April 30, 2015

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Chelsea’s Petr Cech is leaning towards Arsenal….

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to snub a potential move to Liverpool in favour of joining Arsenal as he and his family are settled in London, according to reports.

Cech has been a regular fixture for Chelsea since joining the club 11 years ago and has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in Europe with his excellent displays helping the Blues lift a number of honours including 3 league titles, 4 FA Cups and the Champions League.

However, the 32-year-old lost his first team place this season to Thibaut Courtois and started just his fifth league game of the campaign during last nights 3-1 win over Leicester, with the majority of his game-time coming in the cup competitions.

The Czech international has already confirmed he’s not prepared to spend another season as Courtois’ understudy, telling reporters:

“I’m used to playing 50 or 60 games a season, not 15 or 20. That’s a big difference.

“It looks like it works well with me and Thibaut as a duo. But that can work for one season only. I don’t want another one like this.

“It is no secret that I want to play more. The situation is the same, it hasn’t changed. But at the end of the season it will be solved.”

Jose Mourinho has done his best to try and keep both goalkeepers happy but it was virtually an impossible task, so Cech is set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and it’s understood the West Londoners will allow him to choose his next club as a mark of respect for the excellent service he’s provided over the years.

Understandably, there is plenty of interest in Cech’s signature, not least from the Premier League with Arsenal and Liverpool both registering their interest, while Ligue 1 champions PSG are also keen.

However, despite the French giants attempting to lure the keeper with a bumper pay packet, the Mirror claims that Cech is now edging closer to joining Arsenal as his preference is to remain in London where he and his family are settled.

The newspaper suggests that Chelsea want around £10m for Cech’s signature and although PSG haven’t given up hope of luring him across the channel, it appears Arsenal are now in pole position to sign the hugely experienced keeper.

The news will come as a blow to Liverpool as despite Simon Mignolet’s improved form since the turn of the year, Brendan Rodgers is still on the look out for a new No.1 and Cech would have been a superb addition for the Merseysiders.

But if Arsenal can win the race for his signature, then it would be a major coup for the Gunners. Arsene Wenger is in the market for a new keeper after axing Wojciech Szczesny from the starting eleven in January and should Cech arrive this summer, then you’d expect the young Pole to be on his way out of the Emirates.

However, despite suggestions to the contrary, I’d still be surprised if Chelsea sold Cech to Arsenal. The North Londoners could finish the season as runners-up so it would be a big gamble to sell a world class talent like Cech to one of their direct title rivals. Plus, would Mourinho do business with his old foe, Arsene? Only time will tell….