Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of completing the signing of Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo as Antonio Conte searches for a back-up shot-stopper.
After seeing Marco Amelia leave the club and with Jamal Blackman sent out on loan, the Italian tactician requires a third goalkeeper in the squad behind Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic.
According to ESPN, he’s found the right candidate, with Dinamo Zagreb manager Zlatko Kranjcar seemingly confirming that Eduardo will move to Stamford Bridge this summer.
“Yes, I think so [if he expects Eduardo to leave]. Eduardo has been given an amazing opportunity to leave for a big club like Chelsea.
“When he arrived we gained security in our team, and in my time in the club he has defended his goal very well. But the situation is that he is leaving. May he have all the good luck in a big club.”
The 33-year-old was part of the Portugal squad that won Euro 2016 earlier this summer, but he failed to feature as Rui Patricio made the number one spot for Fernando Santos his own.
Nevertheless, it looks as though a move to the Premier League is now on the horizon for the veteran, and should a deal be completed before the deadline, he will become Chelsea’s third signing of the summer.
Conte has already brought in N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi, with both men playing their part in the opening weekend 3-1 win over West Ham United.
However, should Chelsea harbour ambitions of competing at the top of the Premier League this season, then it’s clear that Conte will still need to strengthen further between now and the deadline in order to add quality and depth to his squad in certain departments.
Adding a goalkeeper certainly addresses one issue, but his defence and options up front will undoubtedly still be on his agenda as he appears a little thin in those areas too.