Suraj Radia
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea, 2024/25
© IMAGO
Chelsea could be willing to spend as much as €80 million on a replacement for Robert Sanchez after seemingly being left unconvinced by their goalkeeping options this season.
Sanchez has been Enzo Maresca’s first choice keeper in the Premier League this season but the Spaniard has come under fire for his performances, having made more errors leading to a goal (three) than all but one player in the division.
Chelsea spent €24.5m on Filip Jorgensen during the summer but the 22-year-old has only made one Premier League appearance despite impressing in cup competitions for the Blues.
Despite also having Kepa Arrizabalaga and Djordje Petrovic on their books, Chelsea will continue to explore their options in goal and BILD" href="https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/bvb-topstar-wechselt-er-zum-fc-chelsea-6763191a33fc6116949cf982" target="_blank">BILD claim their search could lead them to Dortmund shotstopper Gregor Kobel.
Chelsea have held a long-standing interest in Kobel but 27-year-old could leave Dortmund if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season, having grown frustrated at his side’s lack of success in recent seasons.
Kobel still has more than three years remaining on his contract with Dortmund and Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay between €70-80m for the Swiss keeper should he become available for transfer.
Gregor Kobel could leave Dortmund next year.
© IMAGO - Gregor Kobel could leave Dortmund next year.
Chelsea ready to make record Kobel transfer
Only two teams have conceded more goals than Chelsea in the league this season and Sanchez has the second-best save percentage of any keeper, stopping 77.6% of the shots he has faced.
But the 27-year-old has proven shaky with the ball at his feet, completing just 24% of his goal kicks longer than 40 yards – the second-worst in the league in addition to the errors he has made leading to goals.
Chelsea will likely need to sell the likes of Petrovic and Kepa before pursuing any deal for Kobel, who has seen Dortmund have an underwhelming campaign thusfar as they sit eighth in the Bundesliga.
The Blues are said to believe that Kobel can become ‘the best goalkeeper in the world’, leading to their alleged willingness to splash out on him and potentially eclipse their world record €80m outlay for Kepa in 2018.