'Chelsea could sell Petr Čech to Arsenal because they're no title threat'
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Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy is aware that José Mourinho won't prohibit out-of-favour goalkeeper Petr Čech from joining Arsenal because they're no longer title threat.
Reports over the weekend suggested that Arsène Wenger would make a January bid for Čech, with the Frenchman looking for quality competition for Wojciech Szczęsny.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper is struggling for game-time at Stamford Bridge following the return of Thibaut Courtois from a loan spell with Atlético Madrid.
Čech has played just once for the Blues this season, having previously been first choice goalkeeper in West London for a decade.
"Of all Chelsea's current squad, I'd suggest Petr Čech is the most likely to leave," Cundy told IBTimes.
"You can only play one goalkeeper at any one time and, unfortunately for him, Thibaut Courtois has come through and made the position his own.
"Courtois is the future, and I can see Čech, who has hardly played at all this season, moving on for regular playing time.
"Where could Čech go? Well Arsenal have been mentioned in some quarters, and I think that move makes a lot of sense.
"When José first joined Chelsea, back in 2004, he'd never have dreamed of selling a top player to Arsenal, because they were genuine rivals at the time.
"But nowadays (and I know I'm going to get pelters from Arsenal fans for saying this) the two clubs are at completely different levels.
"Arsenal aren't competing with Chelsea any more. They live in the Premier League's top four, but seem to have given up challenging for the title.
"José will know that, and he'll also know he can get good money out of them for Čech."
Mourinho agreed a £37.1 million deal to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United last January and Cundy thinks he could give the green light to a similar deal.
He added: "Last year he sold Mata to United because they were struggling, and because Mata didn't fit into his system - he wasn't strong or versatile enough to be a Mourinho player.
"José knew United weren't competing with Chelsea at that particular time, so he was happy to give them Mata. You can see something similar happening with Čech.
"By signing for Arsenal, Čech could stay in London and he'd get regular playing time at a big club.
"Would Cech be a good signing for Arsenal? Absolutely."
Reports over the weekend suggested that Arsène Wenger would make a January bid for Čech, with the Frenchman looking for quality competition for Wojciech Szczęsny.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper is struggling for game-time at Stamford Bridge following the return of Thibaut Courtois from a loan spell with Atlético Madrid.
Čech has played just once for the Blues this season, having previously been first choice goalkeeper in West London for a decade.
"Of all Chelsea's current squad, I'd suggest Petr Čech is the most likely to leave," Cundy told IBTimes.
"You can only play one goalkeeper at any one time and, unfortunately for him, Thibaut Courtois has come through and made the position his own.
"Courtois is the future, and I can see Čech, who has hardly played at all this season, moving on for regular playing time.
"Where could Čech go? Well Arsenal have been mentioned in some quarters, and I think that move makes a lot of sense.
"When José first joined Chelsea, back in 2004, he'd never have dreamed of selling a top player to Arsenal, because they were genuine rivals at the time.
"But nowadays (and I know I'm going to get pelters from Arsenal fans for saying this) the two clubs are at completely different levels.
"Arsenal aren't competing with Chelsea any more. They live in the Premier League's top four, but seem to have given up challenging for the title.
"José will know that, and he'll also know he can get good money out of them for Čech."
Mourinho agreed a £37.1 million deal to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United last January and Cundy thinks he could give the green light to a similar deal.
He added: "Last year he sold Mata to United because they were struggling, and because Mata didn't fit into his system - he wasn't strong or versatile enough to be a Mourinho player.
"José knew United weren't competing with Chelsea at that particular time, so he was happy to give them Mata. You can see something similar happening with Čech.
"By signing for Arsenal, Čech could stay in London and he'd get regular playing time at a big club.
"Would Cech be a good signing for Arsenal? Absolutely."
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