Soccer: Blues don't fancy Fabien

Jose Mourinho says Fabien Barthez is too 'high-profile' to become the solution to Chelsea's goalkeeping crisis.

Reports had linked The Blues with a shock move for the former Manchester United and France goalkeeper after the injuries sustained to Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini in the 1-0 win over Reading.

Mourinho has conceded he is looking to bring in a short-term fix to help provide backup for current number one Hilario - who kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Barcelona on Wednesday night - and Italian custodian Cudicini when he returns to fitness.

However Barthez, who retired earlier in October and is therefore a free agent, is unlikely to fill the void left by Cech's serious injury as Mourinho believes the 1998 World Cup winning shot stopper has too high a standing to be utilised as a third choice.

"What I know in this moment is that we have 50 agents calling us and, if they call us, they call the press," said Mourinho.

"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.

"Probably, what we have to try to get is a third goalkeeper and, of course, Fabien is not a preferred third goalkeeper. He is a high-profile goalkeeper.

"I prefer to think that now we have Hilario and Carlo, they are first options and 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."

Cech's recovery is likely to take a number of months but Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck is confident the Czech Republic international will return to his very best as he embarks on the load road to recovery from a skull fracture.

"When events occur such as those that befell Petr and Carlo over the weekend, it puts things into perspective," said Buck.

"Carlo, we are all hopeful, will be back to normal soon. Petr's situation is more problematic. He will need time to recover.

"We are optimistic of a full recovery and look forward to when the best goalkeeper in the world dons his number one shirt again at the Bridge."