Arsenal are reportedly considering a shock move for Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as they look for a long-term replacement for Petr Cech.
The 34-year-old has struggled this season as he has now failed to keep a clean sheet in eight consecutive Premier League games, the longest run of his career so far.
Although he will hope to be able to continue playing for many more years, the Evening Standard suggest that Arsene Wenger could be considering his long-term options.
It’s claimed that the Gunners could sign Pickford in January and then immediately send him back to Sunderland on loan for the rest of the season.
However, it’s also added that no fee has been agreed upon and the 22-year-old is under contract with the Black Cats until 2020 so they will be in a strong position to demand a hefty fee with Tottenham also named as an interested party.
Wenger is spoilt for choice between the posts given that David Ospina and Emiliano Martinez are on the bench for him this season while Wojciech Szczesny is out on loan at Roma and will return to north London next summer.
It doesn’t appear as though there is much confidence in that trio though based on this report, and perhaps Wenger will be looking for a long-term and reliable option sooner rather than later.
He won’t find it easy though as with Sunderland stranded in the bottom three in the table currently, David Moyes will be desperate to keep hold of his players and get the club out of their predicament.
Pickford has been in good form so far this season with 18 appearances in all competitions under his belt, but he will surely jump at the chance to join a massive club like Arsenal.