Arsenal still haven’t started negotiations with Petr Čech over a new deal, even though his current contract expires in 2019. Could he leave this summer, and who might replace him?
Back in December, the Telegraph reported that Arsenal hadn’t started negotiating a new deal with the goalkeeper.
At the time, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil’s situations were more pressing. Realistically, their expiring contracts were destabilising the team, and Arsenal needed to fix that by the end of the January window.
Now, that problem is gone, with Sanchez at Manchester United and Özil tied down until 2021. Yet there’s still no sign of Arsenal even starting to negotiate with Čech.
Perhaps the club are waiting to see whether the 35-year-old’s form improves in the second half of the season. Although he had a great game against Tottenham last weekend, he’s now gone two months without a Premier League clean sheet.
Often that is just as much the defence’s fault as Čech’s, but in the defeats to Bournemouth and Swansea he was as much to blame as anyone.
If the goalkeeper doesn’t sign a new contract before the summer, I’d say that’s a sign that he’s on the way out.
Either way, he’ll be 36 soon and while he thinks he can play until he’s 40, he shouldn’t be allowed to do that at Arsenal.
If he goes, who will replace him?
Arsene Wenger could look at internal solutions first.
Emi Martinez, on loan this season with Getafe, will return as a 25-year-old looking for first-team opportunities.
The same is true of Matt Macey, 23, who made his senior debut this season.
Wenger was confident enough in both goalkeepers that he was willing to sell Wojciech Szczesny, so at least one of them will probably stick around to play a part next season.
However, unlike Szczesny, neither have shown any signs of following in the footsteps of keepers like David de Gea or Thibaut Courtois who were both well established as first choice by the time they were 23, never mind 25.
Even though the manager has faith in him, I very much doubt David Ospina will take over as number one. He can’t even get a Premier League start despite being behind a goalkeeper making more mistakes leading to goals than anyone else in the division.
I can’t see how that situation will improve next season, and his contract expires in 2019 as well.
What this all means is that Arsenal will have to buy.
There are a few options available at the moment:
1. Gianluigi Donnarumma
Donnarumma is keeps falling out and making up with AC Milan. At the moment he’s on their good side, but that could easily change. The goalkeeper is just 18 years old, and one of the most promising talents in Europe. You can guarantee he’d cost a considerable amount.
2. Jack Butland
Butland recently denied that he’s asked to leave Stoke City, saying he’s focusing on keeping the club in the Premier League. Once he’s achieved that, or failed and seen them relegated, maybe he’ll think about a move this summer. If Arsenal want him, they’d be better off trying to make a move before the World Cup, given what that competition can do to a player’s value.
3. Jan Oblak
According to Catalan newspaper, Sport, Raul Sanllehi is trying to bring Oblak to the Emirates. The 25-year-old has tons of experience with Atletico Madrid, and is a very highly rated goalkeeper. Like Donnarumma, he would be very expensive, but worth the investment if he could play at the top level for the next 10 years.
Of course, had Arsenal kept Szczesny, they wouldn’t have any of these problems or be facing the massive financial outlay that is going to be needed.