Chelsea make improved £8m bid for Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic

Chelsea have made an improved £8m ($12m) bid for Stoke City keeper Asmir Begovic, according to the Telegraph.

The Blues had a £6m ($9m) bid rejected for the Bosnia international as Jose Mourinho looks to sign a replacement for Petr Cech immediately after his transfer to Arsenal. They have consequently upped the bid to pave the way for a move with Stoke also interested in signing Chelsea outcast Victor Moses on a season-long loan deal.

Moses signed for Chelsea in 2012 under Roberto Di Matteo but failed to get a proper run-in as he was loaned out to Liverpool in the following year where he played a bit-part role.

Begovic has a wealth of experience in the Premier League which should help him settle at Chelsea but the player is unlikely to displace Courtois from his pedestal, where he has been a rock in Chelsea's title winning campaign last season.

The goalkeeper has only 12 months left in his current contract and Chelsea are pushing hard to complete the deal as soon as possible.

Manchester United are also interested in the player, according to the Mirror, but with David de Gea's future at the club still unclear, Louis van Gaal has staved off interest and is waiting for Real Madrid to make a proper bid for the Spaniard before delving into the transfer market.

Chelsea allowed Cech to move to Arsenal earlier in the week, ending a 11-year-long journey, which included four Premier League titles, four FA cups, a Europa League and a Champions League trophy.

However, lack of game time owing to the ascendance of Courtois instigated the move and his desire to stay in London while continuing to play in the Champions League did not leave the Champions much choice with regard to his destination.

Cech is likely to make his debut for Arsenal against Chelsea at Wembley in the Community Shield on 2 August.