Do Everton have major advantage over Arsenal in Kasper Schmeichel chase?

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The Leicester City talisman has been linked with both Everton and Arsenal, but if he wants to be first choice he will know where he should go.

While Leicester City’s recent revival may have offered a timely reminder of exactly why Jamie Vardy, Danny Drinkwater and co have Premier League champion scribed on their CV, Kasper Schmeichel is one of the few players in Leicester City’s ranks whose excellent recent form has not coincided with Claudio Ranieri’s departure.

Those two penalty saves in either leg against Sevilla in the Champions League round-of-16 and that stunning point blank stop to deny Andy Carroll against West Ham United last weekend has surely added a few pounds on to his £15million price tag, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

Yet Everton’s interest will have stemmed from his performances across the entire campaign.

If a lack of top quality goalkeepers is the Toffees’ problem, the publication claims they have identified the Great Dane as the solution. Current first choice Joel Robles is out of contract next summer and, despite his impressive recent form, lacks the consistency of the ever-impressive Schmeichel.

And this could potentially give Everton an advantage over Arsenal. The Daily Mirror also claim that the Gunners are preparing a summer move for the 30-year-old in the clearest indication yet that Arsene Wenger could be set to extend his stay/prolong his misery at the Emirates.

Although the eagle-eyed among you will rightly point out that there are plenty of areas Arsenal could do with strengthening before they consider signing a goalkeeper to compete with Petr Cech and David Ospina. Wenger, after all, has described the duo as ‘world class’ on more than one occasion, Goal reports.

Therefore, Schmeichel may have a decision to make. First-team football would be almost guaranteed at Everton and the prospect of sitting on the bench behind a 34-year-old Cech should not appeal just two seasons after winning the title.

And if Arsenal miss out on Champions League football for the first time in Wenger’s tenure, a prospect which appears increasingly likely, then Goodison Park would appear an even more attractive destination.