Arsenal transfer news: Gunners line up Peter Gulacsi to succeed Petr Cech

Petr Cech turns 36 in May and not surprisingly the Gunners are quietly going about identifying a younger gloveman for when the veteran finally decides to call it a day.

And according to the Metro Arsenal have earmarked Peter Gulacsi as the “long-term replacement” for Cech, although they could face competition from Chelsea if Thibaut Courtois, who has yet to agree new terms with the Blues, decides to return to Spain and La Liga.

In the meantime, however, Metro says Arsenal are doing all the running for the RB Leipzig stopper and they had their scouts in attendance last weekend against Bayern Munich.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The 27-year-old Gulasci is a Hungary international who spent five years at Anfield without making a league appearance for Liverpool, but since joining Leipzig in 2013 he’s blossomed.

What’s more, reports Metro, the fact he spent so long at the Reds means he would qualify as a homegrown player were he to sign for Arsenal.

Cech has 18 months to run on his Arsenal contract and although Arsene Wenger has David Ospina and Emiliano Martinez on his books, the Gunners gaffer believes neither has what it takes to be the club’s No 1 keeper.

But it seems Wenger is coming round to the idea of keeping Mathieu Debuchy, reports the International Business Times, which says the French defender may yet have a future at the Emirates.

Debuchy made his first appearance for the Gunners in 11 months in the Europa League last month and despite rumours consistently suggesting his Arsenal career is on the slide, Wenger appears ready to give Debuchy another chance.

“Maybe he has a future as a centre-back,” Wenger said. “He has the attributes because, despite his size, he is very good in the air. You think he couldn’t play centre-back because he is not tall, but if you look at the number of balls he wins in the air it is impressive.”

Elsewhere and the Daily Mirror claims that Arsenal are tracking Napoli playmaker Jorginho. The 25-year-old has been in sparkling form this season, catching the eye of Wenger, and the Daily Mirror - citing Italian outlet Tuttomercato - says that the Arsenal manager will make his move next year, ideally in January although he may be forced to wait until the summer.