Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Eduardo set to join Chelsea

Portugal international goalkeeper Eduardo will join Chelsea next week, according to Dinamo Zagreb manager Zlatko Kranjcar.

Antonio Conte is in the market for a new backup goalkeeper after deciding not to re-sign Italian veteran Marco Amelia last summer, while youngster Jamal Blackman joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on loan to gain first-team experience earlier this week.

Eduardo would be behind both Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic in the goalkeeping pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

In a news conference on Thursday, Kranjcar revealed that Eduardo is scheduled to complete his move to Chelsea after the second leg of Dinamo’s Champions League playoff tie against Red Bull Salzburg next Wednesday.

Asked if he expected the goalkeeper to leave after the Salzburg game, Kranjcar replied: “Yes, I think so. Eduardo has been given an amazing opportunity to leave for a big club like Chelsea.

“When he arrived we gained security in our team, and in my time in the club he has defended his goal very well. But the situation is that he is leaving. May he have all the good luck in a big club.”

The Portuguese, who was part of Portugal’s victorious Euro 2016 squad — would become Chelsea’s third signing of the summer, after striker Michy Batshuayi was acquired from Marseille in a £33 million deal and N’Golo Kante left Leicester City for around £30m.

Kante and Batshuayi both made their Chelsea debuts on Monday as Conte’s men began the new season with a hard-fought 2-1 win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

Eduardo, 33, was on Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning squad this summer but did not play behind Rui Patricio.