Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has claimed Petr Cech has only three years left as Chesea’s number one bringing his long-term future at the club into question.
Courtois, signed by the Blues from Genk for £8 million in the summer, revealed that the back room staff at Stamford Bridge have serious concerns over Czech Republic international’s fitness after a series of injuries over the last few seasons.
The 19-year-old Belgian rookie is currently on loan at Atletico Madrid and claims he is being prepared by the West London club to replace Cech in the next few years.
Courtois said: “Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach told me he doesn’t know how much time Cech can play at the top level.
“I know he has problems in his knees and on his back.
“Chelsea told me to spend two years at a club like Atletico. After that one season in an English team so I can integrate myself into the Premier League.”
29-year-old Cech has already spent three weeks out with knee injury during the current campaign and still needs to wear a protective helmet after a collision with Reading’s Steven Hunt in 2005 resulted in a fractured skull.
Chelsea coaches fear he could be dogged further by shoulder and back injuries and it seems as if the club are readying Courtois to take over from the stopper.