Chelsea Transfer News: Petr Cech Must Consider Future as Thibaut Courtois Reigns

Thibaut Courtois may have conflicted interests when it comes to the goalkeeping duel at Stamford Bridge, but Jose Mourinho's No. 1 may be correct in ascertaining that Petr Cech would be right to leave Chelsea.

Having made just one Premier League appearance this season, Cech clearly isn't the first-choice stopper Mourinho has in mind. Courtois told Sky Sports this week that he would exit the club were he in Cech's shoes:

"As a goalkeeper you want to play. If I was in that situation where I didn’t play a lot, then I would leave too. I think Petr is still a goalkeeper with a lot of quality and one of the best there is."

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It may seem a crude assessment to some, especially given that the youngster still considers his elder a team-mate at present, but the truth can often be difficult to hear.

Especially when one has spent the last decade and more guarding Chelsea's borders only to be shipped onto the sidelines for a younger and arguably more capable model—precisely Cech's predicament.

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As Courtois himself admits, Cech remains a substantial talent in his own right, but the long-term potential of Mourinho's current frontrunner is too big to ignore given that he's still only 22, 10 years younger than Cech.

Should the more experienced of the two choose to leave, there would undoubtedly be a list of European powers racing to acquire his skills, with Football Italia reporting that Roma are among those interested:

Cech's deal in west London runs until 2016, but should the veteran allow himself to sit on the bench for too long, he risks seeing that interest in his name drop.

Ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton recently spoke highly of the Chelsea No. 2 but admitted to talkSPORT that Cech may have to move on to serve his personal needs:

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I think he’s got Chelsea running through his veins, he obviously enjoys playing under Mourinho. It’s about where do you go and what opportunities are out there, and do Chelsea want to let him go? I think eventually, when you’ve been at the top like him and was the best around at one point.

I think the head injury was probably the turning point for him. But eventually he has got to start getting first-team football, any player wants that. Nobody wants to be playing bit parts, even if it’s a club going tremendously well. I think he will have to move, eventually.

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Given Courtois' current run of form, it's unsurprising that the starlet may be more inclined to see Cech's shadow depart Stamford Bridge.

However, it would be something of a crime if the elder were to remain and fight the good fight only to see the remainder of his contract run out without much of an impact during the last 18 months of his deal.

For a player who's won titles both European and domestic with the Blues, it's slightly disappointing the way things have turned against Cech, but not completely surprising for a club constantly chasing perfection.

Bitter though it may be, Cech has to put his own goals above all else next year, and now seems the appropriate time to admit when a battle would seem lost before picking first-team arms up elsewhere.