Chelsea line up QPR's Rob Green as Cech replacement

These rumors first popped up a couple months ago, but since backup goalkeeper rumors aren't exactly the most exciting transfer rumors known to man, they slowly faded into the background.  Now Simon Jones of the Evening Standard has resurrected them, claiming that Chelsea are "close to wrapping up" a deal for the Queens Park Rangers and England goalkeeper.  (Yes, Rob Green has been called up as recently as March by Roy Hodgson.)

Chelsea are planning to step up their bid to sign Robert Green as their new No2 goalkeeper now that QPR have been relegated.

Green is the club's first choice to replace Petr Cech should the Chelsea veteran secure a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer as expected.

...Chelsea feel he can be persuaded to make the move across west London for a cut price £2m.

-source: Evening Standard

Green is two years older than Cech and while he had been a full-time starter at QPR, perhaps he's willing to trade a first-choice role for the opportunity to stay in the Premier League (which is apparently why he was willing to stay at QPR in the first place, when these rumors initially popped up).  With QPR going back down (HA-HA!) and with just one-year left on his contract, Green may be more open to the idea of moving.

We would all love Cech to stay of course, from the manager on down, but that's probably not going to happen.  For £2m we could probably do a lot worse than a former England international.  Freeing up a non-homegrown spot would provide an extra benefit, too.