West Ham interested in Chelsea’s backup keeper Asmir Begovic
By George Perry
If Thibaut Courtois is bored during Chelsea’s games, imagine how his backup must feel. Asmir Begovic may not be replacing Courtois any time soon, but he is filling in for the Belgian in the rumour mill.
Asmir Begovic probably rued Chelsea’s early exit from the EFL Cup more than anyone. Without the first domestic cup competition on the docket, Begovic lost his best source of early-season match appearances. Now, the team that knocked Chelsea out of the EFL Cup may be interested in giving Begovic regular playing time on the other side of London.
West Ham United are supposedly interested in a mid-season transfer for the Bosnian keeper. Darren Randolph displaced Adrian from the starting slot after the season went into free fall. West Ham started the campaign with an embarrassing exit from the Europa League qualifiers. They are currently in 16th in the Premier League.
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West Ham’s – and possibly Adrian’s – season got a bit shorter yesterday when they lost 4-2 to Manchester United in the EFL Cup. Adrian could have seen red for a late, studs-up tackle into Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s knee. That is the sort of ill-disciplined, potentially ruinous action that has Slaven Bilic looking for a new man between the pipes.
Begovic played regularly last year when Courtois was out with injuries or suspension. This season Courtois does not see enough activity around the goal to get hurt or in trouble. Begovic may welcome a move that will put him back on a Premier League pitch.
The Hammers are underperforming under Slaven Bilic, particularly defensively. They have conceded 24 goals, third-worst in the league and one goal more than basement-dwellers Sunderland.
West Ham’s goalkeepers and defence share the blame, and Begovic would be stepping into a difficult situation. The Hammers could use his physical presence, though. Begovic can not only block shots but also organize and command his backline, bringing some much-needed structure to the defence.
But while Begovic may fit West Ham’s needs, he still fits his current club’s needs. Chelsea want someone stronger and more reliable than Eduardo as Thibaut Courtois’ reserve.
An interesting twist is that Jamal Blackman’s loan to Wycombe Wanderers is only for the first half of the season. If Chelsea determines that Blackman is ready to make the jump to first-team backup, they could recall the Academy grad in January. He could build his experience by playing in the FA Cup – presumably against lower-tier teams – while training with Courtois and the first-team.
This scenario would be likely if Chelsea were not at the top of the table. A Premier League championship is a very real possibility and a very attainable goal. Antonio Conte and club management will not jeopardize that by letting it hinge on Courtois’s continued health.
Chelsea needs Asmir Begovic to guarantee their fight for the title. Even if he does not always feel involved, Begovic is a significant part of the club’s plans and strategy, and will remain so.