• Premier League

Cech talks up Chelsea's Rooney bid

Chelsea goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Petr Cech have both called on the club to bring Wayne Rooney to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues confirmed on Wednesday that they have made a bid for Rooney, but denied reports that the offer was £10 million plus Juan Mata or David Luiz.

The bid was rejected by Manchester United, but Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists he is still keen to land the England international.

And Schwarzer, who joined the Blues on a free transfer earlier this month, believes Rooney would be a welcome addition to the squad.

"I think over the years Chelsea have shown a tremendous amount of ambition and that just continues now by bidding for one of the top players in English football," Schwarzer told Sky Sports News.

"The club always wants to continue to go forward and that is what is very exciting about being here. He is definitely one of the best strikers in the world without a doubt and he would be an asset to any side."

Asked if he would like to play alongside Rooney at Chelsea, Schwarzer added: "That is not my choice, but he is a phenomenal player and an asset to any side."

Cech also welcomed Chelsea's pursuit of Rooney and feels his arrival would aid the club's chances of success next season.

"Wayne Rooney is a great player but at the moment he's a Man United player," Cech said. "We'll see what's going to happen. He's a great player. Let's see.

"You always want to have the biggest and strongest squad so you can challenge for titles. That's why you have a manager and sporting director to take care of that and you have to do the most important part and that's the work on the pitch.

"We already have a few more players and a great squad. If the manager doesn't think we have enough he will try to get players in. It is only his decision. For players, we concentrate on getting fit and doing our best, to play as much as we can. That's all we can do.

"In football things are changing every day with every squad. As time goes on, every team can make some changes. Anything can happen."

Cech went on to speak about Mourinho, who he played under during the Portuguese's first spell at the club.

"He is as hungry as ever, he wants to be successful," Cech said. "When you have someone who works at such a high standard every day it never changes. It's the same.

"He doesn't do things just for nothing, he always wants to win games, no matter if it is a Premier League game or a pre-season game or Champions League game. He's always pushing the players hard to train, to concentrate, to do things in the right way."

Mourinho praised the elder players at the club earlier this week, but Cech understands that there are no favourites in the squad.

"It's the same whether you are 40, 31, 45, 28 or 15," Cech said. "If you are good enough you play, if you are not good enough you don't play. I think everybody will play on merit, we have to earn our places and we are working to do so."

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