By SAMI MOKBEL
Petr Cech is the surprise name on Arsenal’s six-man shortlist to replace goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny next season.
The Chelsea keeper has been watched extensively by Gunners scouts.
Cech remains Chelsea’s first-choice keeper and a move across London would be one of the most unexpected transfers in recent memory but there are continued suggestions that highly rated Thibault Courtois, who is on loan at Atletico Madrid from Chelsea, could replace Cech next season.
The Gunners are manoeuvring themselves into a position to strike if Cech makes way for Courtois, 20.
Chelsea are convinced Courtois is Cech’s long-term successor after his two successful loan spells in the Spanish capital.
Cech’s deal expires in the summer of 2016 and the chances of Chelsea agreeing to sell the goalkeeper to one of their biggest rivals seem remote.
But the fact Arsene Wenger has his eye on such an audacious signing illustrates his intention to spend heavily this summer.
Pepe Reina, Asmir Begovic, Victor Valdes, Rene Adler and Michel Vorm also appear on the club’s goalkeeping hit list.
Szczesny is facing a fight to save his Gunners career after a string of below-par displays. The Pole was dropped in favour of countryman Lukasz Fabianski for Arsenal’s last two games against Bayern Munich and Swansea.
The Gunners kept two clean sheets, which is likely to result in an extended spell on the bench for Szczesny.
In an interview with Poland daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza ahead of Arsenal’s win at the Liberty Stadium, Szczesny said: ‘I am too happy [here] to go somewhere else. I believe in the philosophy of the club and that Arsenal will start to win again. I have a debt to pay here for the club. I do not want to go anywhere else. As long as they want me here, there is no “somewhere else”. I have a contract until June 2015.’
