Report: Celtic rejects Chelsea offer for Craig Gordon

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has seen an offer for Craig Gordon rejected as he attempts to find a replacement for backup goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, sources tell Sky Sports News HQ.

If the Blues eventually make a successful bid, the move could be the centre tile in a domino effect late in the transfer window, with Bournemouth looking to sign Begovic, Chelsea plugging that gap with Gordon, and then Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers potentially scouring the market to replace his seasoned shot-stopper.

Gordon has six months left on his contract in Parkhead and, although Rodgers isn't shocked that the veteran's performances have attracted interest, the Ulsterman is determined to retain the Scotland international.

"I heard something before the game and I'm not surprised," Rodgers said Wednesday.

"There's lots of speculation about many of our players. It is credit to them that they're performing so well that these great clubs are interested in them. But Craig's very much a part of what I'm doing here. He has really consolidated his game and he sees how we want to play.

"You can see how calm he is. He is 34 years old, he can go on for a number of years and be a real pillar of this team."

Asked whether Chelsea would be chasing a lost cause in approaching Gordon, Rodgers replied: "Yes, of course."

Second in line to mind the Celtic net is Dorus de Vries, the 36-year-old Belgian who joined last summer after a stint at Nottingham Forest.

Bournemouth is unlikely to let up in its hunt for Begovic, with boss Eddie Howe sighting a better option than the error-prone and ageing Artur Boruc between the sticks.

If a transfer for Gordon fails to materialise, Chelsea is believed to be eyeing Espanyol's Diego Lopez and Galatasaray's Fernando Muslera as secondary options.