The Blues made a move to sign a key Parkhead star this week.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has confirmed, as reported by talkSPORT, that he tried to sign Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon last month to replace Asmir Begovic as his back-up goalkeeper.
Rumours spreading in the final weeks of the January transfer window suggested that Begovic was keen to leave Stamford Bridge in order to become first choice between the posts for another club.
Though the former Stoke City man ultimately remained in West London, it appears as though the reports claiming that Conte had identified Gordon as a potential replacement were on the money.
Conte has admitted for the first time that he did indeed to try to tempt Gordon and Celtic into striking a deal to allow the ex-Sunderland man to return to England.
The Italian boss said, as reported by talkSPORT: “For Gordon, we tried because, I repeat, we tried to help Asmir Begovic to satisfy his request to go and play every game.
“But I always told him that if we were able to find the right solution, the substitution, he could leave.
“For sure, Gordon was one of the goalkeepers on the list to try to bring him here. We tried but when the club told us: ‘It is not possible, we don’t sell’ – we finish.”
Holding onto Gordon was seen as a crucial achievement for the Bhoys. The 34-year-old has made 140 appearances for the club since signing in 2014 and is their undisputed number one.
Though it is unclear to what stage any discussions over a potential transfer progressed, to resist the lure of the club who look to be Premier League champions-in-waiting was a big statement from both Gordon and Celtic.
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