by Mark Bassey

Jose Mourinho has hinted that Chelsea might be ready to let Petr Cech leave, to make Thibaut Courtois their first-choice goalkeeper next season.

Cech has been a permanent fixture between the goal posts for the Blues, since he moved to Stamford Bridge 10 years ago, but his position is under threat from the young Belgian, who returns after spending three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid.

In an interview with the Evening Standard, Mourinho spoke highly of Courtois and referred to Mark Schwarzer as the club’s number two goalkeeper.

“Petr is ready to fight for his position but Thibaut is the best young goalkeeper in the world, no doubts about that,” Mourinho was quoted by the Evening Standard.

“They will fight and for me it’s a good problem to have to make a decision. We are a club that wants to be strong and wants to have a real possibility of competing for trophies and we want competition for places.

“But I know that Mark Schwarzer is a very good keeper, very stable and a good man, completely ready to be our second goalkeeper like he was last season and to give positive performances if we need him to play.”

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