Stamford Bridge side close in on deal to sign Nou Camp custodian.
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Chelsea are preparing a move to sign Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes on a pre-contract deal in January according to Spanish source AS.
The 31 year old Spanish international has publicly stated his intention to leave the Nou Camp when his contract comes to an end in the summer, leaving the player open to discussions with interested parties in January when he can sign a deal ahead of completing a free transfer move next summer.
Chelsea are ready to meet Valdes’s €10m a year deal, a move that will call into question current keeper Petr Cech’s future at Stamford Bridge. Such a move would also leave youngster Thibaut Courtois wondering where he fits into Jose Mourinho’s plans with the Belgian international currently into his third season long loan spell at Atletico Madrid.
Valdes is into his twelfth season in the Barcelona first team set-up and has made over 500 appearances for the Catalan giants but after six La Liga titles and three Champions League winners medals it appears that the locally born custodian is keen on a new challenge.