Arsenal Favourites Ahead Of Man Utd As Blues Agree To Sell Cech Following Talks

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 agree to sell Petr Cech to a rival…

Chelsea have agreed to sell Petr Cech to a domestic rival following high level talks with Arsenal favourites ahead of Manchester United to sign the goalkeeper this summer, according to the Telegraph.

Cech is poised to leave Chelsea after losing his first team place to Thibaut Courtois and the keeper has confirmed he’s not prepared to play as a No.2 next year after making just seven appearances in the league last season.

Understandably there is no shortage of interest being shown in the Czech international with Arsenal and Manchester United among the clubs understood to be keen on signing him this summer.

Jose Mourinho has already gone on record as saying he’d rather not sell Cech to an English rival but acknowledged that ultimately the decision would be made by the clubs board and owner Roman Abramovich.

There has been plenty of speculation suggesting that the Russia billionaire would let Cech choose his next club and now the Telegraph appear to have confirmed this school of thought, with the newspaper claiming today that following high level talks at Stamford Bridge, the club have reluctantly agreed let sell the 33-year-old to a rival if that’s the keepers preference.

Cech has given Chelsea 11 years of loyal service and the Blues hierarchy feel he deserves to be rewarded by not standing in his way if he wants to remain in the Premier League, so it looks like a move to Arsenal or United is now on the cards.

The Telegraph go on to say that the Gunners are considered the favourites to secure Cech’s signature as the keeper’s preference is to stay in London where he and his family are settled, and Chelsea will supposedly demand a fee in the region of £10m for his services.

Arsene Wenger has been hotly tipped to bring in another goalkeeper this summer after axing Wojciech Szczesny from the first team back in January but the Gunners boss must make a final decision on his keeper situation before launching any formal bid to sign Cech.

If Arsenal do end up taking the Blues stopper to the Emirates, it will almost certainly spell the end for either Szczesny or current No.1 David Ospina. The Colombian performed well during the second half of the season but it would be a huge blow to his confidence if Wenger was to relegate him back to No.2 following the arrival of Cech.

So as it stands it appears Arsenal are in pole position but I wouldn’t discount United from the running just yet. Louis van Gaal is likely to need a new first team keeper with David De Gea tipped to join Real Madrid and Cech would be an excellent replacement.

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The experienced keeper is currently away on international duty preparing for the Czech Republic’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Iceland on June 12 but he’s expected to begin formal transfer talks after that game has taken place, so we should know a lot more in a couple of weeks time.