Chelsea believe Asmir Begovic will accept their offer of £75,000-a-week and become their new back-up goalkeeper, reports The Evening Standard.
The Stoke City stopper is keen to leave Staffordshire this summer and join a club regularly competing in European competition.
It would therefore seem inevitable that he would jump at the chance to join the Blues, who are virtually guaranteed Champions League football every season.
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However, the role on offer at Stamford Bridge is understudy to the commanding Thibaut Courtois, who looks capable of being their No.1 goalkeeper for the next decade.
Begovic is more than capable of being the first-choice goalkeeper for a number of Champions League clubs and would have to accept far less first-team football than he has enjoyed with the Potters.
Significant pay rise
To make up for the lack of action, Jose Mourinho is preparing to offer him a hefty pay rise to the tune of £75,000-a-week and will also offer him reassurances over game time.
Those assurances are most probably guarantees that he will be the goalkeeper for both the League Cup and FA Cup as Petr Cech was last season.
That was not enough for Cech, who completed an £11m move to Arsenal after declaring his wish to leave earlier this year but it may be enough to convince the Bosnian.
Alternatives
Chelsea have also been linked with a move for QPR's experienced goalkeeper Robert Green who is set to leave Loftus Road following the club's relegation from the Premier League.
With just one-year left on his contract, the 35-year-old would come much cheaper than Begovic but is certainly no longer in the same class as him. Norwich City star John Ruddy is also an option that has been considered.
Lacking ambition
At 28-years-old, Begovic should be entering his prime years as a professional footballer but would certainly see his progress stall if he joins Chelsea.
While making money is important for anyone, Begovic could easily command good wages at another club and, if he waits, could find a much bigger offer on his doorstep.
Once David de Gea joins Real Madrid from Manchester United, a chain reaction of goalkeeper transfers could result in a big club need someone of Begovic's quality.
Should Manchester United move for Hugo Lloris, Tottenham could see Begovic as the perfect replacement and offer him money, European football as well as the all-important No.1 shirt.
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