Jose Mourinho confirms Mark Schwarzer’s switch to Leicester City

Leicester City (11/8 with Coral to avoid relegation) are set to complete the signing of former Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on a free transfer, after Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho confirmed the deal.

After much speculation over the 42-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho confirmed that Schwarzer will complete a move to Leicester City within the coming days, and his former manager heaped praise on the Premier League stopper.

“As a goalkeeper, when we needed (Schwarzer), he was there for us, and as a person and a professional he was an amazing guy in our group,” Mourinho said.

“On behalf of myself, my staff and my players I want to say we are going to miss the big guy and we wish him all the best in his new life at Leicester.”

Schwarzer is the first Australian to earn 100 international caps, having been instrumental in his country’s qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. His arrival at the King Power Stadium will be a welcome addition for Nigel Pearson’s men, with Kasper Schmeichel currently recovering from a broken metatarsal, which he picked up in training.

Following an 18 month stint at the west London club, the former Fulham and Middlesbrough shot-stopper, will be switching from a team that lead Manchester City at the Premier League’s summit, for a side struggling rock-bottom of the table.

Schwarzer played only 12 games for Chelsea after joining from Fulham at the end of the 2012/13 season, a campaign in which he became the first overseas player to make 500 Premier League appearances.

However, despite his new club’s league position, Schwarzer will receive a lot more playing time at Leicester and is likely play a key role in the Foxes bid to avoid an immediate return to the second-tier. The East Midlands outfit are 12/5 with Coral to finish rock-bottom of the Premier League this season.