5 replacements for Petr Cech

Petr Cech has enjoyed a fine career at Arsenal, but with the goalkeeper approaching his 36th birthday, the attention of manager Arsene Wenger has shifted towards finding a suitable replacement for when the Czech Republic international decides to hang up his gloves.

The former Chelsea and Rennes keeper still has 18 months left on his deal at the Emirates Stadium, but the Gunners are already on the hunt for a long-term successor.

Who Arsenal can go for next summer, which is when anymore is likely, will depend on their status. If they are in the Champions League, they will necessarily be a more attractive option, yet true to his reputation, Wenger is unlikely to spend big on the No.1 role.

Here are five suggestions as to who he may move for.

#5. Peter Gulacsi

The RB Leipzig goalkeeper has had a slow route to the top, yet several top clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea, are believed to be following the 27-year-old goalkeeper.

He is a shot-stopper who is quick across his line and has excellent anticipation skills, while he has also spent this season gathering valuable Champions League experience in Germany.

One of the advantages that the Hungary international goalkeeper boasts is that he would be eligible to play in European football as a homegrown player, having spent five years at Liverpool without making a first-team appearance.

#4. Alban Lafont

Lafont is one of the brightest young prospects in Europe

At just 18, Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont is regarded as one of the great up-and-coming goalkeepers of his generation.

Born in Burkina-Faso but a France youth internationalist, the teenager is already closing in on 100 first-team appearances for the Ligue 1 club – a figure he will surpass if he stays injury-free till next summer.

While there are still some areas of his game that are raw, he is very much a modern goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, while his reactions are fantastic. He’s already proven he can do it against France’s best teams, keeping two clean sheets against PSG last season, and a move to Arsenal would be a welcome step up.

A year learning from Cech would only hasten his development.

#3. Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Ter Stegen in training

Press reports suggest that Ter Stegen is one of the goalkeepers that Wenger is keeping a close eye on, but any prospect of moving for the Barcelona player surely rely on Arsenal finishing in the top four this season, thereby booking Champions League football.

Indeed, the Germany international has started to get increasingly regular game time at Camp Nou and has 10 clean sheets in only 16 games this season, so it is difficult to see Ernesto Valverde part willingly with a player who both fits his system and has enjoyed success.

He has been Barca’s regular stopper for closing in on 18 months and no doubt his footballing capabilities attract Wenger.

#2. Claudio Bravo

Bravo had a disappointing first season at Manchester City

In signing Cech from Chelsea, Arsene Wenger showed that he was not afraid to look at options in the Premier League. An experienced goalkeeper who is out of favour with his present employers like Manchester City’s Claudio Bravo could, therefore, be an attractive option.

The Chile international has terrific experience at club level, and though he has not had his problems to seek since moving to the Etihad Stadium at the beginning of last year, it is difficult to argue with his pedigree. You aren’t signed twice by Pep Guardiola if you’re merely average.

Stuck to the bench in Manchester, he could prove a cheap stop-gap option for a couple of years.

#1. Gianluigi Donnarumma

At 18, Donnarumma has already proved that he can hold his own in European top-flight football

Looking to the long-term, as Arsene Wenger loves to do, there are no better options out there than 18-year-old Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The teenager has already proven his capabilities with AC Milan and has a reputation to match.

Consequently, if the Rossoneri continue to struggle in Serie A, it is entirely plausible that agent Mino Raiola will look to move the youngster on. He nearly refused to sign a new deal in the summer. So while he has proclaimed his heart is with Milan, there is clearly scope for a deal to be brokered.

A raft of big clubs will be after the giant youngster, though, and if Arsenal are to stand any chance of signing him they will simply have to be in the Champions League next season. Such a move would be a bold statement of intent – but it would also have to represent a change of direction in their signing policy, which many fans believe is necessary.