Chelsea look set to put Arsenal off a deal for Petr Cech by cheekily demanding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as part of the deal.

Arsene Wenger has been sniffing around the Blues' wantaway keeper, while it has been clear from the outset that Jose Mourinho will reluctantly see him move anywhere – but that he really doesn't want it to be to a Premier League rival.

Cech, who is known to favour a new deal that will keep him London, has clearly been flirting with Arsenal, but the inclusion of Oxlade-Chamberlain's name in negotiations has sent a clear message to The Emirates.

Mourinho will not let one of his top players go for mere cash - as he has previously said about Oscar, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois – he needs one of the bidding club's big names as part of the deal.

Meeting of minds: Jose Mourinho and Radamel Falcao

Meanwhile, with the deal to take Radamel Falcao to Chelsea on a season-long loan all but done, the wisdom of signing Juan Cuadrado in the January window is now looking clearer.

The two are friends, and have combined well for their native Colombia – though Cuadrado has a long way to go before coming close to justifying the £23m outlay on him early this year.

Jose Pekerman, Colombian national coach, said of the pairing being thrust together with Chelsea: “I have no doubts that they are going to help each other and are going to be a success."

In other news, Chelsea season ticket holders have been invited to take part in the latter stages of a consultation on the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.

The proposals for a rebuilt 60,000 capacity stadium, revealed here last month, are to include a revitalised look for a whole stretch of Fulham Road.