Chelsea: It is almost time to bring Petr Cech home

Arsenal have completed the signing of Bernd Leno. Chelsea should take advantage of the uncertainty that leaves Petr Cech in and bring him home.

Petr Cech has been at Arsenal for several years now but it appears his time is up. He was allowed to join, and strengthen (at the time) a rival because of all he had done for Chelsea during his career. He is and always will be a true Chelsea legend, not the hollow type of legend than people so often lob on anyone and everyone. An actual legend.

But he is very much on the downhill of his career. He was exposed time and time again last season with Arsenal. The Gunners have now purchased the young German keeper Bernd Leno to take his starting spot. He could start at many Premier League clubs still, but few would be willing to pay for him after next season. Chelsea should be on of the squads willing to do so.

Eduardo’s contract came to an end, leaving Chelsea without a third keeper. Willy Caballero has extended his contract for another year and is decent on good days. Thibaut Courtois’ future is very much up in the air. If he extends, he will stay at Chelsea. If he does not, he will be sold this summer and replaced by a new keeper. Chelsea are short on options and may need to look at a young, less experienced keeper to fill the gap. That is where Cech comes in.

Even if Cech is not the best keeper in the world anymore, there was a time in where he was the world’s best. He and Gianluigi Buffon traded the mantel back and forth until Cech started to slip and Buffon took it as his own. But any young player could look at Cech and be eager to learn.

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Cech also understands what it means to be Chelsea. He has been gone for a few years, but he would be a link to the era of legends such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba. The new, young keeper could feel the pressure lessened by listening to Cech and his knowledgeable advice.

As for playing, it will be difficult. Cech is not the player he once was and Caballero still has some gas in the tank. But either could fight for the backup spot throughout their time together at Chelsea. They could both push one another to keep a high level of play while also pushing one another to succeed.

After that, Chelsea can prepare Cech to step into a coaching role and continue to pass his experience on to future generations. They will do well to learn from his vast experience for many years to come.

The only hang up is the price, but with a year left on his contract he is unlikely to command anything significant. Arsenal now have plenty of keepers to allow Cech to leave and would likely snap up anything offered for him.

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Chelsea must do better at bringing their legends into the fold at Chelsea. Lampard had to take a job in Derby to start his managerial career. Gianfranco Zola is set to return finally, but the Blues must get Cech right from the start.