Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli in the summer transfer window as Thibaut Courtois' number two, as Petr Cech is believed to angle for a move away from Stamford Bridge due to a lack of first-team opportunities this season.
Bettinelli is on a three-man shortlist, of all Englishmen, that Mourinho is looking at buying in the summer, with Robert Green of QPR and Tottenham's Brad Friedel as the other two reported candidates. Mourinho watched Fulham's 1-1 draw with Rotherham last Wednesday, and Bettinelli only has a year left on his current contract with the Cottagers. However, it is believed that Bettinelli is worried that he will not have many first-team opportunities if he joins the Blues.
This is an understandable problem, especially given the divide in quality between the two sides. Chelsea are at the top of the table in the Premier League, whilst Fulham are struggling in the Championship, and narrowly avoided relegation this term. Courtois is the same age as Bettinelli, and has already established himself as a world-class goalkeeper, one of the best in the world, so it would be hard to expect the Fulham 'keeper getting much minutes in truth.
Kit Symons will be eager to tie Bettinelli down to a new contract, not only due to the extent of his development into the first-team in recent months, but also because of his talent and how he has established himself as one of their best players this season.