Chelsea Transfer News: Blues Keeping Tabs on Douglas Costa, Petr Cech Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly receiving updates on the health of Shakhtar Donetsk's Douglas Costa ahead of a summer transfer, according to the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel.

The Brazil international has struggled with knee injuries but is expected to leave Ukraine for a top club at the end of this season nonetheless, and the Blues are seen as heavy favourites for his services.

During a recent interview with Marcus Alves of FourFourTwo, the 24-year-old made it clear Chelsea are at the top of his wish list:

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I’d be really interested in moving to Chelsea—not only because everything Willian tells me about the club, but because I think that I’d be able to achieve everything I want having someone like Jose Mourinho by my side.

Since I left Brazil, I have worked with a marvellous coach (Mircea Lucescu) and got an idea of how much influence such a good professional can have in your football. Now I think it’s time to try a new philosophy and I’m sure that Mourinho's is the best around. He’s always fighting for trophies.

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The Sun's Mike McGrath (subscription required) previously reported Shakhtar and Chelsea have already agreed to a summer deal worth £18 million, providing Costa's knee checks out.

Costa has been one of the driving forces behind Shakhtar's rise in European football the past few seasons, but he was one of the players who refused to return to the club earlier this season due to the unrest in Ukraine, as reported by the Associated Press (for the Guardian).

A transfer has been all but inevitable since then, and it appears his current club is more than willing to accommodate Costa.

He's a bit of a divisive player, often starring for Shakhtar against lesser opposition and vanishing when they come across the better clubs. Costa is a strong playmaker, but his finishing can get erratic at times, as evidenced in a recent friendly against Chile.

As shared by Bleacher Report's Laura Greene, he has his detractors:

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Douglas Costa's effort "uglier than frog's breath," says Ray Hudson. Quite.

— Laura Greene (@Greene_L) March 29, 2015"

The Blues have a deep and strong squad, and Costa doesn't appear to have the potential to be an immediate impact starter in west London. But as Garry Hayes told Bleacher Report, he doesn't have to be:

Costa would add a dash of pace and creativity off the bench and could be a very useful player in late-game situations, when Chelsea are desperately in search of a goal. As an occasional starter and impact sub, he could be an interesting addition.

All of that is contingent on his knee checking out, however, and we won't know that for certain until the end of the campaign.

Petr Cech Allowed to Leave Stamford Bridge

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Longtime Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech will be allowed to leave the club at the end of the season and sign for whichever team he wants, according to the Daily Mirror's John Cross.

The veteran stopper has been linked with a move to rivals Arsenal, and per Cross, Roman Abramovich will not stand in his way if that's where the Czech international chooses to go:

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Chelsea keeper Cech has been one of the best ever signings during the Abramovich era and there is huge respect between the pair.

But Cech, 32, has lost his place as No1 to Thibaut Courtois and has admitted that he will have to leave for the good of his career this summer.

Chelsea owner Abramovich will give his express permission to allow Cech to go where he wants, although the club will still want around £10m.

That will open the door for Arsenal to make a move for Cech as they look for a new No1 with David Ospina currently keeping Wojciech Szczesny out of the team.

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As shared by Sky Sports, the Blues have reportedly already identified a possible replacement:

The transfer saga surrounding the 32-year-old has been a long and sometimes painful one, as the prolific stopper lost his starting position to star youngster Thibaut Courtois at the start of the season. He's looked more than solid in cameo appearances all year, but his Belgian team-mate is clearly the man for the future.

As shared by WhoScored.com, recent history suggests he still has plenty left in the tank:

Star goalkeepers have a tremendously long life span these days, with the likes of Gianluigi Buffon (37) and Iker Casillas (33) showing few signs of slowing down. Expectations shouldn't be any different for Cech, who won't be short of suitors once the transfer window opens.

At this point, no one can blame Cech for wanting to leave any longer, and even team-mates such as Eden Hazard are more than understanding, via football writer Pete O'Rourke:

It remains to be seen whether Jose Mourinho will actually sign off on allowing the veteran to join the Gunners, as the Chelsea manager is not one to strengthen a direct rival, particularly if it only nets his side £10 million.

There are dozens of good and even great clubs who could use a star goalkeeper like Cech, and it would make sense for Mourinho to push for a move abroad instead of selling him inside the Premier League.

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