Chelsea Hope To Secure Deal Within 48 Hours After Submitting Formal Offer

As the summer transfer window gets set to open for business, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Chelsea hope to replace Arsenal-bound Petr Cech with Asmir Begovic….

Chelsea hope to wrap-up a deal for Asmir Begovic over the next 48 hours after submitting an opening £6m bid for the Stoke City goalkeeper as Jose Mourinho looks to replace Petr Cech, according to the Telegraph.

The Blues saw their long-serving goalkeeper secure a move to London rivals Arsenal on Monday leaving Mourinho with a huge void to fill in his squad with a top quality stoppper required to cover for Thibaut Courtois.

It appears he’s set his sights on Begovic as the Telegraph claim that Chelsea have now tabled an opening £6m bid for the 28-year-old after holding lengthy talks with Stoke officials on Monday.

While that offer has been knocked back, the newspaper suggests that the Blues are set to return with an improved bid closer to the Potters £8m asking price and are hopeful of wrapping-up a deal inside the next 48 hours.

It remains to be seen whether Begovic will be prepared to move to Stamford Bridge knowing he’ll have to act as understudy to Courtois, but the Telegraph claim that Chelsea are ready to tempt him with a double-your-money contract offer.

If the Blues could pull this off, I think Begovic would be an excellent replacement for Petr Cech as he’s a top class keeper who has plenty of experience in the Premier League.

The Bosnian international has been a vital player for Stoke since joining the club from Portsmouth in 2010 and played a key role in helping Mark Hughes’ men secure an impressive ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news

However, he has just 12 months remaining on his current contract and with no sign of an extension being signed any time soon, it looks like Stoke are going to have to cash-in this summer to prevent losing him for nothing next summer.

Luckily for Hughes, he already has the perfect replacement lined-up with England youngster Jack Butland ready to step-up to be No.1 next season, so this is a move that could suit all parties.