[ad_pod ]
Arsenal will not buy a replacement for Petr Cech this summer according to fellow goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, per Football.London.
Cech is set to retire at the end of the season, but the Gunners are not set to dip into the transfer market to replace him.
What's the word?
Cech will bring down the curtain on a trophy-laden career at the end of the season.
He has won four Premier League trophies, along with four FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League.
But the Czech Republic international has fallen out of favour under Unai Emery and has made just seven league appearances this season, per Transfermarkt.
He has been usurped in the pecking order by Bernd Leno, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
And Martinez has now revealed that the Gunners intend for him to become Leno's deputy once his current loan spell with Reading ends.
Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they'd come knocking in 2005...
“I have three years left on my contract at Arsenal,” he said. “Now Cech is retiring I was told when I came to Reading that next year they want me to be the backup. But I’m not thinking about next season yet.
“I am not thinking about what may happen in the summer, we will look at it then. All I know is Reading is my team now."
Lack of funds?
Emery was restricted to just one January signing, a loan deal for Denis Suarez of Barcelona.
And while that deal is said to include a purchase option, per BBC, Martinez's words may set alarm bells ringing for Gunners supporters.
The 26-year-old has made just 14 appearances for the Gunners in total, per Transfermarkt, but may now be relied upon to be Leno's No.2.
If the German picks up an injury, few at Arsenal even know if Martinez will be able to replace him.
This certainly appears to be a worst-case scenario option for the Gunners, who may eventually have to sell before they can buy.
Whatever happens, there does not appear to be a lot of money available to Emery at the Emirates Stadium.