Chelsea keeper Petr Cech will meet with Stamford Bridge officials today, including owner Roman Abramovich, to confirm his wish to leave the club in the summer and will discuss the possibility of an Arsenal transfer.
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Daily Mail journalist Rob Draper tweeted his belief on Sunday that Roman Abramovich would be present for the discussions, and the Blues legend is expected to ask the Russian businessman to allow him a move to Arsene Wenger’s side.
Sky Sports report that the Czech Republic international isn’t prepared to spend another season on the bench in west London with Thibaut Courtois having established himself as Jose Mourinho’s no.1, but he wants to remain in the English capital to avoid unsettling his family.
The Gunners, therefore, are leading the chase for his signature; however the Premier League champions are reluctant to sell to a rival given Cech remains a top-class goalkeeper, and could be key in the title battle next season.
Paris Saint-Germain are also interested, and the Ligue 1 champions are prepared to meet the £11m price-tag. Jose Mourinho, unsurprisingly, would prefer to see the Stamford Bridge veteran walk out at the Parc des Princes next season than the Emirates. It’s therefore expected that the club could encourage Cech to consider a move to France in today’s meeting.
Nonetheless, Sky Sports state that Chelsea would be willing to grant the 33-year-old a move to Arsenal – but only if they receive a homegrown player from Arsene Wenger as part of the deal.
Theo Walcott, whose contract expires at the end of the 2015-16 campaign, is yet to sign a contract extension, despite The Independent claiming that the England international was close to agreeing a new deal. Liverpool have been noted as being interested in the winger, and his name will continue to be linked away from north London unless he commits his future soon.