Former Bluesa no.1 Carlo Cudicini has backed Asmir Begovi a s imminent move to his old club, even as reports emerge that an agreement for a transfer fee for the Bosnia and Herzegovina international has been reached between Chelsea FC and Stoke City
With Petr A?echa s move to Arsenal now complete, Jos Mourinho is stepping up his efforts to secure a replacement for the Czech international with Stoke Citya s Asmir Begovi reportedly closing in on a move to Stamford Bridge.
Although Begovi is an excellent keeper, it is likely that he will have to settle for being second-choice behind Belgian Thibaut Courtois for Chelsea FC, an experience that Italian Carlo Cudicini is all too familiar with.
Cudicini, who signed for the Blues at the turn of the millennium, was displaced in 2004 by the then 22-year-old Petr A?ech, who quickly made his mark at Chelsea FC and showed the sort of form that meant that Cudicini was never quite able to win back his position.
The Italian, however, has backed Begovi a s proposed move, and is quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying, a If you are a goalkeeper that wants to prove himself, ita s a club where you can definitely be tested.
a The season is long; you have a lot of games to play. It happened last year with Petr A?ech. He ended up playing around 15 games. So you have space and time to show the ability and your skill, so why not (go there)?a
It appears increasingly likely that the 28-year-old Stoke City shot-stopper will be plying his trade in London next season, with reports emerging that Chelsea FC have agreed a fee for the Bosnia and Herzegovina international with Stoke City, having seemingly cleared the potential obstacle of Mark Hughesa side wanting one of Mourinhoa s players in return.
According to reports by Sky Sports Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, a transfer fee of A?8m has been agreed between Chelsea FC and Stoke City for the keeper, with personal terms of A?4m a season being agreed with Begovi .
Begovic to Chelsea, 8MA? to Stoke City: deal done, he’ll be Cech replacement (via @DiMarzio) . #CFC
a Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 30, 2015
Begovic has agreement with Chelsea for his contract: 4MA?/season #CFC
a Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 30, 2015
The Bosnian is arguably the best keeper a in terms of ability a that Mourinho could have realistically signed to replace A?ech, and will be an excellent signing for Chelsea FC. Given he is just 28, and thus relatively young for a goalie, it seems as though the Blues will have an incredibly strong pairing of keepers in their first-team squad for years to come.