Chelsea are planning to step up their bid to sign Robert Green as their new No2 goalkeeper now that QPR have been relegated.

Green is the club’s first choice to replace Petr Cech should the Chelsea veteran secure a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer as expected.

Manager Jose Mourinho insisted once again last week that he wanted Cech to stay but the feeling within the camp is he will go.

Cech repeated his desire last week that he wanted to play more first-team football next term after being relegated behind Thibaut Courtois this season. The 32-year-old revealed he will make a decision on his future after the final game against Sunderland on May 24 but a number of clubs including Inter Milan, Paris St Germain, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool are already interested in buying him.

Chelsea started looking into alternatives weeks ago and Standard Sport revealed in March that they were confident of securing Green’s signature.

The 35-year-old has impressed for QPR despite the team boasting the worst defensive record in the top flight and dropping back to the Championship with two games to go.

Green, who has just one year left on his £40,000-a-week contract, was recalled to the England squad in March as a reward for his performances.

QPR are resigned to making wholesale changes to their squad in the summer and are aware that Premier League clubs will be making offers for their prize assets.

Green told this paper last month that he would like to stay at Loftus Road if they remained in the top flight.

Player Ratings: Chelsea vs Liverpool 22 show all Player Ratings: Chelsea vs Liverpool 1/22 Thibaut Courtois: 6 Responded well when called into action. Getty 2/22 Branislav Ivanovic: 5 Received his customary yellow card, and was guilty for needlessly giving away the free-kick that led to Gerrad's equaliser. Getty 3/22 Kurt Zouma: 5 Started brightly, but succumbed to injury before the first half was out. 4/22 John Terry: 8 Formidable at the back, he showed his worth in the other box by becoming the Premier League's record scoring defender. Getty 5/22 Filipe Luis: 6 Despite some lovely crossfield passes, Azpilicueta's place in the team does not seem under threat. Getty 6/22 John Obi Mikel: 5 Continues to look out of place in Chelsea's midfield. Getty 7/22 Ruben Loftus-Cheek: 6 A steady if unspectacular debut from the youngster. Getty 8/22 Willian: 7 Ever improving at Stamford Bridge, he was one of the likeliest to break the second half deadlock. Getty 9/22 Cesc Fabregas:8 Could have been dismissed in the opening seconds, but went on to have a commanding influence on proceedings. Getty 10/22 Eden Hazard: 5 Played as though he had been out celebrating the title win all week. IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images 11/22 Loic Remy: 5 Some neat touches but a lack of game time soon caught up with him. Getty 12/22 Simon Mignolet: 6 Often eager to race off his line, he didn't always convince with his decisions. Getty 13/22 Glen Johnson: 6 Showed impressive acceleration, but questionable decision-making. Getty 14/22 Dejan Lovren: 7 An improved performance from the often-criticised defender. Getty 15/22 Martin Skrtel: 6 Always ready to put his body on the line for his team. GETTY 16/22 Emre Can: 5 Struggled at right-back, especially in the first half. Getty 17/22 Steven Gerrard: 8 Scored, gave his all for his side on the pitch, and didn't hold back off it. Getty 18/22 Philippe Coutinho: 6 Threatened on the ball, but his finishing disappointed. Getty 19/22 Jordan Henderson: 7 Provided some creative flashes, both from dead balls and open play. 20/22 Adam Lallana: 5 A frustrating performance from the attacking midfielder that showed a lack of discipline. Getty 21/22 Raheem Sterling: 7 Fortunate to survive Fabregas' early challenge, his attacking intent troubled the hosts. Getty 22/22 Rickie Lambert: 5 Gave his all for the Liverpool cause, but his lack of pace was telling. Getty 1/22 Thibaut Courtois: 6 Responded well when called into action. Getty 2/22 Branislav Ivanovic: 5 Received his customary yellow card, and was guilty for needlessly giving away the free-kick that led to Gerrad's equaliser. Getty 3/22 Kurt Zouma: 5 Started brightly, but succumbed to injury before the first half was out. 4/22 John Terry: 8 Formidable at the back, he showed his worth in the other box by becoming the Premier League's record scoring defender. Getty 5/22 Filipe Luis: 6 Despite some lovely crossfield passes, Azpilicueta's place in the team does not seem under threat. Getty 6/22 John Obi Mikel: 5 Continues to look out of place in Chelsea's midfield. Getty 7/22 Ruben Loftus-Cheek: 6 A steady if unspectacular debut from the youngster. Getty 8/22 Willian: 7 Ever improving at Stamford Bridge, he was one of the likeliest to break the second half deadlock. Getty 9/22 Cesc Fabregas:8 Could have been dismissed in the opening seconds, but went on to have a commanding influence on proceedings. Getty 10/22 Eden Hazard: 5 Played as though he had been out celebrating the title win all week. IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images 11/22 Loic Remy: 5 Some neat touches but a lack of game time soon caught up with him. Getty 12/22 Simon Mignolet: 6 Often eager to race off his line, he didn't always convince with his decisions. Getty 13/22 Glen Johnson: 6 Showed impressive acceleration, but questionable decision-making. Getty 14/22 Dejan Lovren: 7 An improved performance from the often-criticised defender. Getty 15/22 Martin Skrtel: 6 Always ready to put his body on the line for his team. GETTY 16/22 Emre Can: 5 Struggled at right-back, especially in the first half. Getty 17/22 Steven Gerrard: 8 Scored, gave his all for his side on the pitch, and didn't hold back off it. Getty 18/22 Philippe Coutinho: 6 Threatened on the ball, but his finishing disappointed. Getty 19/22 Jordan Henderson: 7 Provided some creative flashes, both from dead balls and open play. 20/22 Adam Lallana: 5 A frustrating performance from the attacking midfielder that showed a lack of discipline. Getty 21/22 Raheem Sterling: 7 Fortunate to survive Fabregas' early challenge, his attacking intent troubled the hosts. Getty 22/22 Rickie Lambert: 5 Gave his all for the Liverpool cause, but his lack of pace was telling. Getty

But now Rangers have failed in that task, Chelsea feel he can be persuaded to make the move across west London for a cut price £2m. The Blues are also considering acquiring a younger keeper during the close season, which is why they have been looking at Fulham’s Marcus Bettinelli.

But they want an experienced man to provide the main support for Courtois, in much the same way Mark Schwarzer did for Cech last year.

The fact both men are English is an added attraction due to home-grown rules in the Champions League and Premier League.

While Green will have to give up playing on a regular basis, the club will be able to point out that Cech has still played 15 times this season, including the Capital One Cup Final and games in the FA Cup, Champions League group stages and Premier League.

Meanwhile, QPR captain Joey Barton today hit out at reports that Eduardo Vargas, Mauricio Isla, Mauro Zarate, Adel Taarabt and Armand Traore are to blame for the club’s return to the Championship.

It has been claimed that these five players are the “bad eggs” Barton was referring to ahead of their 6-0 humiliation at Manchester City on Sunday. However, Barton tweeted: “For the record, I don’t believe Vargas, Isla, Zarate, Taarabt or Traore are responsible for QPR’s relegation. Easy to blame those not in a strong enough position to affect the group.”

Standard Sport understands QPR don’t expect to see on-loan striker Zarate at the club again after handing him a two-week suspension.

Zarate has made just four appearances for Rangers since joining from West Ham on loan in January.

The 28-year-old, who is paid £40,000 a week, reacted furiously to being left out of the squad for the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool 10 days ago.

His actions were so severe that the Argentine was ordered to make his own way back to London and was subsequently issued with a ban and fine of two weeks’ wages.

His punishment expires at the weekend but QPR suspect he won’t even report back for training in the final week of the campaign and have seen the last of him.