Manchester United Star Encouraged to Seek New Challenge at Chelsea

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech believes that Wayne Rooney should consider joining him at Stamford Bridge next season if the striker is looking for a new challenge.

There has been plenty of speculation as to what the future holds for Rooney after Sir Alex Ferguson revealed at the end of the last season that the Manchester United forward had handed in a transfer request.

Rooney has remained tight lipped over his future, despite rumours that some of Europe's biggest clubs are said to be keen to recruit him. The likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have been linked with the England international, while United's great rivals Arsenal have also been mentioned.

Now Cech has insisted that Rooney would be welcome in west London and has urged him to make the move if he feels he requires a change.

"I could see him in a Chelsea shirt. Players can change shirts and obviously he had a fantastic career with Manchester United and sometimes players need new challenges," Cech told Sky Sports.

"Sometimes the consequences are the way that you are looking for the new challenge and change of the shirt.

"So if that happened, obviously he is a fantastic player and he will be welcome to our squad but now we are only in the moment of speculations about it so we will see what this week will bring.

"He's a great player and you always want to see great players in your team."

It would certainly create plenty of headlines if Rooney was to trade Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge, especially with many tipping Chelsea to mount a serious challenge on United for the Premier League title.

Returning Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is said to be keen to recruit a world class striker but they have thus far failed to make any offers, despite being keen on Napoli's Edinson Cavani who would cost in excess of £50m.

Cech was also quizzed on whether he would like to see Chelsea sign the prolific Uruguayan and was once again complimentary about the much sought after striker.

"I could see anybody in a Chelsea shirt, it depends if Jose Mourinho wants to see those players in the Chelsea shirt," added Cech.

"So I believe that he has his own ideas about the team, he knows exactly what he wants in the team. And as I said, now the transfer window opens and we will see what will be the movement in our squad in reality."