Petr Cech will have talks with Chelsea over his future after a season behind Thibaut Courtois in the Blues pecking order, and Arsenal have received a boost in their pursuit of the veteran goalkeeper.
The 33 year-old has spent the majority of the campaign on the bench, mostly restricted to appearances in cup competitions, and spoke out about his future ahead of the Czech Republic’s international fixture against Iceland.
“First I have to agree with the club what the conditions would be for leaving,” he told the Guardian.
“Next week we will have a meeting with Chelsea. At the moment it is with my agent. When it is clearer and all the cards are on the table, we will decide. I believe that for what I have done for the club and what the club has done for me, we can arrange it so we are all happy.”
He added: “I keep all options open, regardless of the country. I will decide based on what is best for me and my family. It does not matter whether it is England, Germany, France or Spain. If I move, it brings difficulties. It must change everything, looking for housing, a school for children and so on. Therefore, the sooner I know what to do the better. I can plan everything and even rest before the new season.”
While those quotes appear at first glance to suggest Cech is open to a move anywhere, the fact that he talks of the ‘difficulties’ of any move out of London is a surefire sign that a move to Arsenal would be his preference – at least due to the convenience.