Chelsea are plotting a January swoop for West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green following a series of below-par performances from Petr Cech. With Cech off the pace, Chelsea have been alerted to the fact that Green has attracted firm interest from Sunderland and Aston Villa, who both want to do business next month, as the Daily Express revealed on Saturday. Cech, the Chelsea No1, was peerless in the Premier League before his skull fracture three years ago. Recently his indecision has led to a previously reliable defence shipping goals and conceding points. Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has been reluctant to point the finger at Cech, but Chelsea have conceded 11 of their 13 league goals from set-pieces this season, proof enough that Cech and his defenders no longer have the kind of understanding that previously made them such an iron-clad outfit. Cech is getting caught in no-man’s land, either not advancing for balls in the box or coming out and being left stranded, and Chelsea are running out of patience. West Ham are almost resigned to losing Green and have alerted staff to search for cover. Manager Gianfranco Zola feels reserve keepers Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz lack the experience to go straight into the Premier League. A deal with Villa could lead to veteran Brad Friedel moving to West Ham while, at the other end of the age spectrum, Zola’s scouts are tracking Huddersfield’s Alex Smithies, 19, who has also interested Stoke. West Ham’s options as far as purchasing players is concerned appeared to have improved last night with the news that David Gold and David Sullivan have lodged a firm bid of £50million to buy the club. dailyexpress