Petr Cech
Arsenal star Petr Cech recently announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of the current season. The Chelsea and Premier League legend holds the record for the most cleans sheets in England’s top tier and also has his name on four Premier League titles, five FA Cups and one Champions League trophy among many others.
However, now at 36, the Czech Republic star can no longer continue with the same intensity, having lost his place to Bernd Leno at Arsenal. While this will be a massive blow for the Gunners, they need to bring in someone reliable to replace arguably the greatest goalkeeper in the Premier League era, which is easier said than done.
At 19, Radoslaw Majecki could be just the youngster Arsenal need to replace the outgoing Petr Cech. The Polish international is currently wearing Legia Warsaw’s No. 1 jersey and has had a good season so far, keeping 8 clean sheets in 16 appearances in all competitions. Not only that, he’s a regular man at Poland’s U19 fixtures.
The Sun has linked the Gunners with a move for the 19-year-old prodigy. With Warsaw facing financial problems (h/t The Sun), a deal is most certainly possible for both parties.
However, given the fact that he is only 19, Majecki would be a long-term replacement and not someone who might be able to slip straight into the first-team action.
Arsenal need a reliable back-up keeper and someone who can potentially challenge Bernd Leno for the first team slot. To that end, Navas’ experience and guile in front of the goal do make him valuable.
Furthermore, his reflexes and leadership that will help Unai Emery’s side. At the moment, Arsenal only have Emiliano Martinez and Bernd Leno as potential options, and thus adding a three-time Champions League-winning goalkeeper could solve their issues.
However, despite all his experience and talent, at 32, Keylor Navas isn’t a long-term replacement and Arsenal will have to enter the transfer market once again in a few years’ time.
Few 25-year-olds have the kind of experience that Jack Butland has and given the Stoke City’s goalkeeper’s form, the English international is bound to have Premier League sides after his signature. While the Potters did get relegated last season, Butland was still one of their standout performers and has remained so in the drop to the Championship.
So far this season alone, the 25-year-old has kept 10 clean sheets, making a few incredible saves to save Stoke City’s blushes. However, what could make a move potentially impossible is the fact that the Telegraph has reported that Stoke want £30million for Jack Butland.
While that does make him expensive, and potentially out of Arsenal’s reach, if the clubs can come to an arrangement for the 25-year-old, Unai Emery and company will get one for the future.
