Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Gareth Bale and Petr Cech Rumours

Chelsea are apparently poised to enter the expected bidding war to lure Gareth Bale away from Real Madrid and back to the Premier League this summer. The Blues may even raise some of the cash to buy the Welshman by demanding a king's ransom from Arsenal or Liverpool for goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Bale is expected to be the priority though. The Stamford Bridge club is even ready to "push the boat out" to make a deal happen, according to MailOnline writer Rob Shepherd.

He states that any interested club will need to part with as much as "£100 million" as a transfer fee "plus near £300,000-a-week wages." That's an eye-watering sum even for a club armed with Chelsea's fiscal power.

There's no denying Bale possesses awesome talent. His pace exceeds almost every star in the game, while his left-footed shot is devastating.

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Yet despite his phenomenal athletic gifts, Bale has struggled to be accepted in the Spanish capital. Madrid-based newspaper Marca recently tore into the world's most expensive player, chiding him for poor form and a lack of defensive application, per BBC Sport Spanish football scribe Andy West.

But Bale is fresh from offering an emphatic rebuttal to his critics. The 25-year-old bagged both goals in Real's 2-0 La Liga win over Levante, per Mirror reporter Aaron Flanagan, who noted the strikes ended an 829-minute drought.

But Flanagan also referenced the apparent tension between Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. Potential suitors will certainly keep a keen watch on that situation.

Interested parties should also note that Bale's form in Madrid is nowhere near as fallow as it's often been portrayed. Squawka provided details after his latest goals:

But do Chelsea really need Bale? After all, manager Jose Mourinho has spent big money on wide forwards such as Willian and Juan Cuadrado. He also has the mercurial Eden Hazard.

Most teams would be foolish to turn down Bale, but Chelsea are one of the few who could do it with little regrets. Mourinho would be better served spending big to refresh an ageing, plodding defence.

One player at the back Mourinho seems ready to wave goodbye to is illustrious stopper Cech. But the Chelsea gaffer will only part ways with the veteran for the right price.

That figure is reportedly £20 million, according to Shepherd. He suggests the 32-year-old could be coveted by as many as six clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Mourinho ought to think carefully about selling to the Gunners and not just because of his animosity toward Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Cech is still as accomplished and capable as any player at his position.

His addition would certainly make the Gunners a legitimate contender for next season's title, considering how problems between the posts should be Wenger's most pressing concern this summer.

Speaking of the summer, Cech has already been linked with a move to Arsenal once this season ends. Back in January, The Telegraph (h/t Mirror writer Paul Gorst) reported Mourinho would allow the 'keeper to pick his next team, even if it means joining a rival.

Mourinho has made a good recent habit of getting the maximum for players Chelsea no longer require. Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku and David Luiz are the obvious examples.

But Cech is different. He can still be an asset at any number of clubs who'll be competing with the Blues for the biggest prizes.

Of course, if Chelsea can really get £20 million for a player in his 30s, Mourinho may be willing to overlook a lot of things—especially if the club is really serious about adding a marquee attacker like Bale.