Arsenal keeping tabs on Kasper Schmeichel as backup for Petr Cech

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Kasper Schmeichel should they fail to land Petr Cech in the summer, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The Gunners have made Cech their top target for the summer, but face a major challenge from Jose Mourinho, who is not willing to sell his star player to one of their fierce rivals. Cech has been superseded by Thibaut Cortouis in the pecking order and the Czech international is looking for a move away from the club to secure first team action.

The stopper, who has his family in London wants to stay in the vicinity despite of having attracted interest from club like Besiktas and Inter Milan. Roman Abramovich is however willing to give Cech a choice, as reward for his uninhibited service to the club and choose his destination in the summer. Mourinho is strongly against any such move and will try his best to scupper any move for the goalkeeper staying in London next season, in the event of him leaving.

Schmeichel, currently playing for Leicester City has been impressive this season and is attracting interest from a lot of parties in the Premier League. Liverpool are also keeping close tabs on his performance and may choose to make a move to act as cover for Simon Mignolet, whose form has gone hot and cold in the ensuing season.

The Gunners have an edge in the sense that they have qualified for the Champions League next season, something that Liverpool would not be able to provide in the next campaign. He is likely to come in as a replacement for Wojciech Szczesny, who has dropped out of the first team this season, following his woeful display against Southampton on the opening day of the year and has been kept on the bench since then.

David Ospina has taken over the Premier League duties in his absence but Szczesny is likely to retain his position in the final of the FA Cup, to commence on 30 May at Wembley.