Arsenal are plotting a move for Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland next summer. According to recent reports in the English press, the Gunners are hoping to make the English keeper their new number 1 at the Emirates Stadium for next season. Petr Cech has failed to live up to the expectations at the north London club so far this season and could be replaced by the Potters goalkeeper ahead of the new campaign. It is being reported that both Arsenal and Liverpool are monitoring his developments at the bet365 Stadium and it would cost them a fee in the region of £40m to land his signature.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is prepared to make Butland his new number 1 keeper at the Emirates Stadium for next season. However, the Potters keeper is also gathering interest from the Reds with their manager Jurgen Klopp being let down by both Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius on multiple occasions during this campaign. The Premier League duo will go head to head at the end of the season in pursuit of the 24-year-old English keeper, who is eager to test himself at the highest level.
Arsenal keeper Petr Cech has made some glaring mistakes this term as evidenced by his performance at Swansea City recently and it is believed that Wenger is looking to add Butland next summer to address his goalkeeping concerns at the club.
The Gunners are currently sitting in 6th place in the Premier League table after suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the Wembley Stadium versus their bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The north London club finds themselves five points behind Chelsea, who are in fifth place at the moment.
However, Wenger’s side has played a game more than both Chelsea and Liverpool with Klopp’s team looking forward to their clash versus Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium while the Blues take on West Bromwich Albion at home on Monday night. The addition of Butland will undoubtedly bolster Wenger’s goalkeeping options at the Emirates Stadium if the north London outfit are successful in their attempts to land his signature next summer.
The 24-year-old has proven himself in the Premier League and is currently competing to be England’s number 1 keeper ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia which is set to kick off later this year. The Bristol-born keeper has featured in 25 matches for the Potters this term, conceding 48 goals while keeping 4 clean sheets so far in all competitions. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can fend off stiff competition from Liverpool in pursuit of his services in the near future.
