---
title: "Arsenal: Mohamed El Shenawy reportedly close to replacing Petr Cech at club"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-mohamed-el-shenawy-reportedly-close-to-replacing-petr-cech-at-club/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-07-25T19:25:20Z"
modified: "2019-07-25T19:25:20Z"
---

# Arsenal: Mohamed El Shenawy reportedly close to replacing Petr Cech at club

**Arsenal are said to be frontrunners to secure the signature of goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, according to an exclusive report from [Read Arsenal](https://readarsenal.com/2019/07/24/exclusive-arsenal-leading-the-race-to-sign-el-shenawy-is-he-a-good-replacement-for-cech/).**

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Thought to be valued at £2.5m, the report claims that Arsenal are on the lookout for a backup goalkeeper following Petr Cech’s [retirement](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46875854) at the end of last season, and are eyeing up the Egyptian, who played at the [2018 World Cup](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mohamed-el-shenawy/nationalmannschaft/spieler/134573/verein_id/3672/plus/0?hauptwettbewerb=&wettbewerb_id=WM18&trainer_id=&start=Jan+27%2C+2016&ende=Jul+25%2C+2019&nurEinsatz=0), to replace him.

Meanwhile, [David Ospina](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48876123) has also recently left the club, departing for Napoli after a successful loan spell in the previous campaign.

Those departures have left a clear run for Bernd Leno – who became Arsenal’s [first-choice goalkeeper](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bernd-leno/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/72476/plus/0?saison=2018&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) during Unai Emery’s first season in charge – to claim the No1 spot again at the Emirates Stadium.

To add further weight to that end, Leno was handed the No.1 [jersey](https://www.arsenal.com/arsenal/players/bernd-leno) ahead of the 2019/20 season.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

However, El Shenawy would not necessarily come straight in as prime backup for the German shot-stopper, with Emiliano Martinez still currently on the Gunners’ books – and recently revealed in an interview with [Goal](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/i-need-to-play-emiliano-martinez-reveals-arsenal-exit-is/1jzf6b889dn43193q4c3hrstef) that he wants to fight for the chance to be Arsenal’s number-one goalie.

With that in mind, Arsenal may not require El Shenawy to beef up goalkeeping options at the club should Martinez – a Gunners player [since 2010](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/transfers/spieler/111873) – finally be given an opportunity to challenge for a sustained run in the first team.

And with the side reportedly [low on funds](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48278922), it may leave Emery best-placed to avert any finances to seal El Shenawy’s arrival towards other targets – despite the ‘keeper’s bargain-level fee.

Though with Arsenal’s financial resources limited, spending on a potentially third-choice goalkeeper could be wasted in the long run given Martinez’s desire to stick around for game time at the Emirates.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Indeed, Arsenal have seen goalkeeping [departures](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-arsenal/transfers/verein/11/saison_id/2019) during the off-season. However, the return of Martinez from his loan at [Reading](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/transfers/spieler/111873) has arguably given the Gunners a ready-made replacement for Petr Cech – which could dispel the need to search for further alternatives in that position.

Martinez’s inclusion in [pre-season](https://www.skysports.com/football/r-madrid-vs-arsenal/teams/406726) could point towards plans to include him in the first-team picture when needed next year, and given he has stated he would be happy to stay if a chance to [become first-choice](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/i-need-to-play-emiliano-martinez-reveals-arsenal-exit-is/1jzf6b889dn43193q4c3hrstef) at Arsenal is within reach, jeopardising that by spending money considering the club’s current [financial situation](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48278922) may put doubts over the merits of this mooted move for El Shenawy.

***Arsenals fans, Martinez or El Shenawy? Discuss below!***