
Petr Cech is not happy playing second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper and is ready to make a decision about his future – after he plays in the Czech Republic’s Euro 2016 qualifying Group A showdown against Iceland on Friday.
Both Manchester United and Arsenal are keen on the 33-year-old Czech international, with Arsenal not entirely happy with last season’s performance from Wojciech Szczesny, and Manchester United likely to lose David De Gea to Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho made it clear last month that he doesn’t want to lose Cech, who has made over 450 appearances for the Blues, winning 4 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, the Europa League and the Champion’s League during his time there.
Yet when Cech was quizzed whether he had played his last game for the West Londoners on their post-season tour of Australia he said, “I don’t know. I will fly back now and join the national team. Then when the season is over I will weigh up my options and decide. I won’t think about it now. When the decision is made I will tell you”.
The feeling is that Cech would rather stay in London, making Arsenal his more likely destination should he decide to leave the Blues. Yet with Louis Van Gaal likely to lose his first choice goalkeeper from the Manchester United squad, the chances are that the Dutchman will push strongly to sign one of the most successful goalkeepers of the Premier League era.
Cech said, “At the moment it’s all just speculation. I’m not even thinking about it. I’m just going back to join the national team and then I will think about it”. The speculation is rife, though, and The Independent is reporting that he would rather stay in London in order to keep his family settled and happy. The 33-year-old has 1 year left on his contract, and Chelsea are hoping to get a figure in the region of £10 million in any sale of him.