Petr Cech is battling for his future at Chelsea.

The Independent says Andre Villas-Boas has identified Chelsea's long-serving goalkeeper Cech as one of a number of players who would be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of this season as part of the comprehensive overhaul of the club's ageing squad the Portuguese has planned should he remain in place as manager next summer.

Villas-Boas feels his distribution is lacking when compared to Pepe Reina, of Liverpool, and Barcelona's Victor Valdes, both highly modern "sweeper-keepers," whose comfort with the ball at their feet enables the employment of a high defensive line. Villas-Boas admitted yesterday that "Petr, Ross Turnbull and Hilario have all been more involved in communication with the defensive line in the way they come out of goal to control the space," but it is not a role Cech excels in.