Blues keep Porato waiting
Jose Mourinho casting his eye over Stephane Porato
Also In The News
|
New Great Britain coach Peter Lundgren has revealed his first task is to persuade Tim Henman to return to Davis Cup action. |  |
Tuesday, 24, Oct 2006 12:52
Chelsea are still mulling over whether to offer veteran goalkeeper Stephane Porato a short-term contract at Stamford Bridge.
The 33-year-old Frenchman, capped once by the national team back in 1999, arrived at the club for a trial yesterday but Blues boss Jose Mourinho is undecided if he is up to the standard.
Porato, formerly of Monaco and Marseille, is available on a free transfer after leaving Corsican outfit Ajaccio in the summer.
Mourinho currently has just unheralded Portuguese stopper Hilario fit after seeing both Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini injured in last week's Premiership clash with Reading.
Reserve keeper Yves Makaba-Makalamby is just 20 years of age and is not considered ready for first-team action yet which could lead to Porato being asked to cover for Hilario.
The Premiership champions have been linked with a number of other keepers this past week including Juventus and Italy number one Gianluigi Buffon.
Fabien Barthez, the now retired former Manchester United and France international, has also been linked with the club although Mourinho was quick to play these reports down.
"What we have to try to get is a third goalkeeper and Fabien is not a preferred third goalkeeper. He is a high-profile goalkeeper," Mourinho explained.
"What I know in this moment is that we have 50 agents calling us and, if they call us, they call the press.
"So Fabien Barthez is a name. There are a lot of names in the air. What I know is that Carlo and Hilario are very good goalkeepers and it is not easy for somebody to come and play in this team.
"We need somebody to give us security and replace Petr Cech in the group of keepers. That is the profile of the goalkeeper we are looking for."