Chelsea stopper Petr Cech is nearing a decision on his uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, and is keen to remain in the Premier League – whether that be with the Blues or elsewhere in England.
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Jose Mourinho admits he can’t stop Petr Cech from joining Arsenal this summer
According to Sky Sports sources, the Czech Republic international’s preference is to stay in England, and ideally he wouldn’t like to leave London to avoid the disruption of having to uproot his settled family.
The news may well come as a blow to Manchester United, who are reportedly keen on the 32-year-old, and see him as a potential successor to David De Gea [via Manchester Evening News]. The Spain international has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, and the Red Devils may be in need to find a new stopper [Eurosport].
Cech’s experience and his undisputed quality would make him an ideal candidate to replace the 24-year-old.
Cech and his representatives will reportedly meet with Chelsea on Monday, where he will find out the fee that Roman Abramovich is demanding for his signature, Sky Sports report. They continue that the Blues stopper doesn’t want Chelsea to stand in the way of his moving to a top-four Premier League side – and Arsenal have been heavily linked to the player.
The Independent stated that the Gunners were the Czech’s first-choice in the summer if he opts to leave the club.
Despite being limited to just seven appearances in England’s top flight over the past season, five of those games finished in a clean sheet for Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho, therefore, could feel inevitably apprehensive at allowing the keeper a move to the Emirates Stadium given his performances have shown little signings of deterioration. This, combined with Arsenal’s impressive form in the second half of the season, suggests that Arsene Wenger’s side could prove a significant threat to the Pensioners’ hopes of retaining the Premier League title, particularly if they acquire the signature of a world-class stopper.
The 33-year-old joined the Premier League champions in 2004 and, up until this season, has been the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. However, since the emergence of 23-year-old Thibaut Courtois into the Chelsea first-team at the beginning of the 2014-15 campaign – following a three-year loan spell with Atletico Madrid – the youngster has been firmly established as the club’s number one, ahead of Blues legend Cech.