Chelsea chase Juve’s Buffon
Back-to-back English champions Chelsea are reported to be preparing a swoop for Juvenuts goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in the wake of injuries to regular keeper Petr Cech and back-up Carlo Cudicini.
The London club are facing a keeper crisis with 24-year-old Cech sidelined until next year after suffering a skull fracture against Reading, a game in which second-string keeper Cudicini suffered concussion.
“We can confirm that Petr Cech has been moved from the Radcliffe Infirmary following his successful operation for a depressed fracture of the skull,” a Chelsea statement said.
“Petr’s condition is improving every day and he is now walking again unaided.”
Chelsea have won three from three in the UEFA Champions League so far, however manager Jose Mourinho is on the look out for a highly-rated keeper to keep the momentum going both in Europe and on the domestic front.
According to The Sun, Buffon, Italy’s World Cup goalkeeping hero, is in the picture for a move to Stamford Bridge, with the 28-year-old’s agent Paolo Fabbri fuelling the rumours.
“We are aware (Chelsea owner) Roman Abramovich can offer fortunes. What he needs is to convince the player it’s the right move for him,” Fabbri said.
“This is not a financial issue, it’s about a chance in life.
“I don’t think he wants to leave Italy but things can change very quickly in football,” the agent added.
Juventus were demoted to the Serie B after the Italian football match-fixing scandal, but even with the exodus of many top-line payers such as Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta, Buffon chose to stay with the Turin club.
Buffon, who is contracted to Juve until 2010, would be free to play for Chelsea in the Champions League as Juventus were also banned from playing in Europe this season.