DONE DEAL – Chelsea To ANNOUNCE New Signing On Monday
This summer brought about the end of an era at Stamford Bridge , with Chelsea legend and one of the Premier League’s greatest ever goalkeepers , Petr Cech , bowing out of the club after a decade of stellar service to the Blues.
This has left the Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with a difficult task of finding a replacement for the departed legend , to act as an understudy to the first choice Thibaut Courtois. Finding a quality backup keeper is one of the hardest tasks in football, as it is a delicate business striking a balance between a keeper who is good enough to act as a first choice and content to sit on the bench waiting for his chances.
Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has long been linked with a move to the Blues and the Potters manager Mark Hughes has now confirmed , as per talkSPORT , that the 28-year-old Bosnian International will join the Stamford Bridge outfit this summer.
Hughes confirmed that Begovic, who turned down a move to Stamford Bridge back in 2011, is in the process of completing the move. Since moving to the Premier League in 2010, Begovic has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the division. The Bosnian International rejected a move to the Blues back in 2011. However, after 5 seasons of sustained excellence at the Potters , it finally seems Begovic has got his chance to finally test himself at one of the biggest stages in world football.
Hughes was quoted as saying :
“I haven’t had an update today but my understanding is that he’s likely to travel to Chelsea and that will be concluded.”
Hughes, himself a former Chelsea striker , went on to say:
“I would imagine, having worked with Asmir, that he’ll back his ability and he would think he will challenge and get game time there, or he wouldn’t have gone there. He’s a confident goalkeeper and a very accomplished goalkeeper so he’ll push whoever’s in the number one very, very hard.”
With highly promising England goalkeeper Jack Butland already at the club, and Shay Given having already signed this summer, Stoke are well prepared to deal with the 28-year-old’s exit. They have also secured the signing of highly rated Chelsea midfielder Marco Van Ginkel on a season long loan deal.
Begovic’s arrival means that once again Jose Mourinho has two very competent goalkeepers at his disposal. What remains to be seen though is how the new arrival goes on to challenge the established order that is the brilliant Belgian Thibaut Courtois.