Mourinho: Cech will cost ‘huge money’

Chelsea F.C. manager Jose Mourinho has revealed it will take ‘huge money’ to sign goalkeeper Petr Cech from Stamford Bridge this summer.

Cech, the Blues’ No. 2 shot-stopper behind Thibaut Courtois, started the Capital One Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and is rated as one of the world’s top-three goalkeepers by Mourinho.

Although Mourinho has insisted he will not stand in Cech’s way if he wishes to leave West London at the end of the season, the Portuguese has made it clear it will take a large transfer fee to prise the keeper away from Chelsea.

“He will make his decision,” Mourinho said. “He’s very mature to make what he feels is the best decision for him and the best decision for his future.

“I will just wait. I would like him very much to stay. I don’t waste my time trying to persuade him, because I know nobody can persuade him.

“If he tells me he wants to leave, I will tell him my opinion and my opinion is one of the three best goalkeepers in the world. Huge money.”

Cech has kept four clean-sheets in five English Premier League starts for the table-toppers this season.

Dyche backs Ings ahead of Liverpool clash

Burnley F.C. boss Sean Dyche is adamant star striker Danny Ings will not be daunted by facing Liverpool on Wednesday night.

The England youth international, 22, was heavily linked with both Liverpool and Tottenham during the January transfer window, but no deal materialised. Nevertheless, Ings will be free to sign for the club of his choosing when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

“Are we back on Danny Ings? I cannot believe it, was that one week’s good grace? Incredible,” Dyche said.

“His determination has been there for all to see, putting in good performances. He has had the one quiet one and other than that he has been very, very good with his performance level and very good around the group.

“He wants to do well for this football club. The rest will take care of itself.”

Regarding the match against the Reds, Dyche added: “The weight of expectation is on who we’re playing against because it’s Liverpool. All the world is thinking they’ll win but it’s not that easy. We know what a good side they are.

“They’ve spent a lot of money on players and it’s taken a while to come together but since Christmas, you can see that’s started to happen.

“We have great growth in our side, I’m convinced of that, with the way the players have moved forwards since the beginning of the season when we were heavily questioned and this is another great challenge.

“This is the challenge we wanted, we grasp it and we want to run with it, take it on, deliver performances and win games. The focus is quite clear from me and my group.”

Ings has tallied nine goals and four assists in 24 league appearances for the Clarets this term.