![By Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom (Asmir Begovic Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/214b7eda0126fd098d80591237167a3b22146decbf08dc2e7ed82006456121ed.jpg "By Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom (Asmir Begovic Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
With the impending departure of Petr Cech, Chelsea FC is in the hunt for a replacement goalkeeper. The latest rumor suggest that they are interested in Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
The Bosnian international has been at Stoke City since 2010 and has been consistently one of the better goalkeepers in the Premier league. Bringing him in as a replacement to Cech would be an excellent decision and would provide good cover in case of injury for Thibaut Courtois.
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There is also the added bonus of Begovic qulifying as a homegrown player under the FA’s rules. According to the Daily Mail, “Premier League rules state that to qualify as home grown, a player must have spent three entire seasons or 36 months with an English club prior to his 21st birthday or the end of the season in which he turns 21”.
Begovic was officially at Portsmouth from 2003 to 2005 as a youth player and then spent the next five seasons on loan at different clubs. Still, he qualifies as a homegrown player because he spent enough time at Portsmouth before he turned 21 and would not take up a foreign player spot the way Petr Cech did.
Stoke City are reportedly looking to involve Victor Moses in the transfer if it were to go through. The Nigerian international spent last season on loan with stroke and was one of their more impressive players. He scored four goals in 23 matches before a hamstring injury in April ended his season and he returned to Chelsea. Stoke manager Mark Hughes has spoken of his admiration for Moses but the midfielder is reportedly looking at other options.
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The Blues paid £9m pounds for Moses in 2012 from Wigan Athletic but it is unlikely that they will receive that money in a future transfer for him. Begovic is valued at around £8m so a straight up player swap seems to be realistic. However if Stoke want £8m and Moses then that might put a hamper on the deal. If not, then the only things standing in the way of that move are the players themselves.
Begovic is an established international and will be looking for regular first team football so his hesitation to join Chelsea is understandable. He is also just 28 years old which is still very young for a goalkeeper. As for Victor Moses, perhaps he believes that he is above playing for a mid-table Premier league club although that appears to be the level where he belongs.
One thing is for sure, if Petr Cech it does indeed leave, which all signs point to that happening, Chelsea FC will be in need of an established veteran goalkeeper to deputize Courtois.
Youngster Jamal Blackman does not appear ready for the responsibility and other names such as Rob Green do not seem qualified for the role. Begovic would be the perfect replacement for Cech so let’s hope that Chelsea can make this deal happen with or without Victor Moses included.
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