Chelsea Transfer News: Brad Friedel Tops Shock Shortlist to Replace Petr Cech

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Brad Friedel has emerged as a surprise candidate to replace Petr Cech at Chelsea this summer amid concerns the Blues No. 2 is heading for the Stamford Bridge exit.

Friedel turns 44 at the end of this season, but Matt Law of the Telegraph reports the former United States international is on Mourinho's shortlist of potential Cech successors, writing:

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Arsenal, Liverpool, Roma, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco are all closely monitoring Cech’s situation and that has forced Chelsea to plan for the fact he could leave Stamford Bridge after 11 years at the club. With 22-year-old Courtois seen as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for the next decade, the club are compiling a list of potential experienced deputies.

Spurs veteran Friedel, who will turn 44 in May, is the surprise name that is under consideration along with the likes of Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Green, Celtic’s Craig Gordon, Aston Villa’s Shay Given and Norwich City’s John Ruddy.

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Friedel is yet to make an appearance for Spurs this season and hasn't played for the club since a 2-2 draw against Benfica in the Europa League round of 16 last March.

Mark Schwarzer was signed by Mourinho as a free agent in the summer of 2013, but the Australian recently parted ways with the west Londoners after joining Leicester City this past winter.

Cech has been a prominent member of the Chelsea lineup for more than a decade, but it's understandable the Czech international should seek bigger first-team prospects following the emergence of Courtois.

Journeyman Friedel holds a reputation as one of the Premier League's evergreen veterans, with James Maw of FourFourTwo recently putting into context just how long he's reigned at the elite level:

However, with the ex-United States No. 1 having not played consistently for the majority of his three-and-a-half seasons at White Hart Lane, it's difficult to gauge the quality of cover he'd bring to west London.

A major advantage in his pursuit would be that Friedel's contract in north London expires at the end of this season, making him a potentially cheap pickup for the Blues, just as Schwarzer was.

That being said, Mourinho may expect a certain pedigree from the figure who's to play backup to Courtois. Experienced as he might be, Friedel is assuredly a steep fall from the talents of Cech in that regard.

Cech has taken on the unfamiliar role of a supporting cast member this term, but he showed his talents in helping Chelsea to their League Cup final win over Tottenham on Sunday. He called the title "as special as the first," per Sky Sports Audio:

Even if he remains at Stamford Bridge only until the end of this term, it seems unlikely to be the last trophy Cech wins with league leaders Chelsea, but it speaks volumes that Mourinho can rely so comfortably on his current No. 2.

One might debate that were it Friedel sitting in reserve, the Portuguese may be more inclined to lean more heavily on Courtois to feature across multiple campaigns, another change in the club's goalkeeping dynamic.

Friedel may have a defining summer ahead, where his prospects could go to struggling for game time at a top-six contender to joining one of England's most powerful outfits 18 years after making his Premier League debut.