Enzo Maresca is still to decide his Chelsea number one.placeholder image
Enzo Maresca is still to decide his Chelsea number one. | Getty Images
Leeds United and Aston Villa have both been credited with transfer interest in the Chelsea player.
The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Strasbourg but has since returned to Stamford Bridge. It had been suggested that Petrovic could fight for the number one spot at Chelsea with Maresca unconvinced by either of his first team options in Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen.
However, it now does not appear that Petrovic will be the solution to that problem. The shot-stopper is said to have been excluded from the Club World Cup squad at his own request in a bid to force through a transfer exit.
Chelsea goalkeeper omitted from Club World Cup squad
That’s according to The Telegraph with the outlet claiming that the omission was not the will of Maresca, but rather the player. The decision is said to have been understood by both parties and not caused a broken relationship.
It is now just a matter of when Petrovic makes his transfer move this summer and not if, with his Chelsea days behind him. The goalkeeper has made a total of 31 appearances for Chelsea since joining from MLS side New England Revolution in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £14 million.
It’s added that Petrovic will rejoin Chelsea for pre-season training in July, if a move has not yet been secured. The Blues kick off their Club World Cup campaign on Monday, June 16.
Leeds United and Aston Villa among clubs linked with Petrovic
Already this month, TEAMtalk claimed that Aston Villa, Leeds United, Brentford and Wolves were looking at a possible swoop for Petrovic. In Europe, Juventus, Fiorentina and Bayer Leverkusen are credited with interest, as well as Strasbourg.
That report claimed that the goalkeeper could be viewed as the ideal number one for Leeds United next season as the club prepares for a return to the Premier League. Meanwhile, at Aston Villa, there are question marks over the future of Emi Martinez. His departure would leave Unai Emery in need of a new first choice goalkeeper.
Petrovic impressed in Ligue 1 last season and earned the praise of manager Liam Rosenior. The coach said: “Petrovic is a great goalkeeper, that’s why he’s here. We expect him in these kinds of matches, the fans pay their way to see these kinds of saves. He was decisive again today.”
Maresca has maintained his support of Chelsea goalkeepers Sanchez and Jorgensen but the club’s desire for a new recruit in that position was made clear with transfer links over a move for AC Milan star Mike Maignan ahead of the first mini Deadline Day this summer. Ultimately, the Premier League and Serie A outfit could not agree a deal in time to get that paperwork done and allow for Maignan to play in the Club World Cup.
In other news, Chelsea could repeat Jadon Sancho transfer amid 'interest' in Man Utd wantaway.
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