Jose Mourinho offers strong rebuke to Arsenal and other teams interested in Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech

Mourinho suggested he may demand a player in return

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech (Getty Images)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has given a strong hands off warning to rival Premier League teams interested in Petr Cech.

The goalkeeper, 33, has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, after spending last season as No 2 behind Thibaut Courtois.

The Czech made just seven Premier League appearances last season and with just a year left on his contract is rumoured to be on the shopping lists of Arsenal and Manchester United, amongst others.

The Portuguese manager has stated several times that he does not want to sell the club legend to a Premier League rival and suggested that he may even demand a player in exchange if Cech is allowed to leave.

"Every club that is interested in Petr, I can find a player that I like in that team too," said Mourinho, speaking at the launch of BT Sport's European football coverage.

"My answer is not important. My answer is not important because the owner is the owner, he is the person with the perspective I admire a lot, respect a lot.

"He respects a lot of people who do important things for him.

"Since 2004 to 2014-15, 10 years of success with the club, 10 years of unbelievable behaviour. I will have to accept any decision that the owner has.

"I'm different. I have the same respect for Petr that everybody at the club has, but my answer would be, no way. If the answer is different I will accept that."

Chelsea finished eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table but the Blues disappointed in the Champions League, where they were beaten by Paris St Germain in the last 16.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal are all expected to spend significant money on transfers this summer and Mourinho believes he needs three new players to stay ahead.

"We have to improve. If we have the same team the other teams will be better than us," Mourinho said.

"If I keep Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic, Branislav Ivanovic, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas - for us that's the first target.

"I think we need three (new) players. A striker because we lost our legend (Didier Drogba), a defender and a midfield player.

"(It will) give a little bit more competitiveness to the squad, bring some new blood in, put some players a little bit under pressure.

"They know they have someone waiting, I need that to support my way of working.

"Now they're the champions I need that but basically the same squad, the same team, the same manager and stability in the club."

Additional reporting from PA