Rosenior may well axe one of his startersplaceholder image
Rosenior may well axe one of his starters | Getty Images
Liam Rosenior will have a big decision to make over one of his players heading into this summer.
Liam Rosenior is going to have a decision to make over one of his key players going into the summer. Chelsea are not likely to spend significant cash in the January window as they continue to navigate Financial Fair Play restrictions.
Chelsea had to be careful in the summer following a fine from UEFA, and they will need to maintain a cautious attitude towards transfers this month, with an exit or two likely required if Rosenior is to get the chance to bolster his squad.
The summer could be a different story, and one of the areas Chelsea are going to have to consider strengthening is the goalkeeping department. Rosenior has actually expressed satisfaction with his current goalkeepers, saying upon his arrival: “I'm very fortunate, in terms of the goalkeepers, that both [Filip] Jorgensen and [Rob] Sanchez are world-class goalkeepers with their feet, which absolutely suits the way I want to play.
“But I'm not going to come in here on the first day and they can say to Rob to play from the halfway line, or for Filip to play from the halfway. It takes time; it's a process. I feel very confident I can bring the best out of my group, in different areas, in different aspects, and playing in one way with one team is different to playing another way with another. I can be adaptable but it's about my players and their strengths.”
But questions remain, and they became clearer on Wednesday night. Chelsea lost 3-2 to Arsenal, and the first two Gunners goals were down to goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The Spaniard came to punch a corner away and missed, allowing Ben White to score a header, and he then flapped at a low cross, trying to catch it instead of pushing it away, only for the ball to slip through his gloves and fall to Viktor Gyokeres.
Sanchez did make a big save to deny Mikel Merino a goal late in the game, but it was a very poor performance on the whole from Sanchez, and he was given a 3/10 in our player ratings as a result. The Spain international did improve a lot in the back-end of last season, but in big games like this, you need to be able to have blind faith in your goalkeeper. Rosenior needs to ask himself whether he has that faith in Sanchez, and it would be surprising if the answer was yes.
Maignan the obvious replacement
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is the obvious option to replace Sanchez, given he was a Chelsea target in the summer. Maignan is still on course to leave Milan at the end of this season, with his contract up and with no clear sign that he will renew it, despite ongoing efforts from Milan.
Chelsea pulled out of the race in the summer after Milan asked for too big a fee, even with Maignan’s contract situation, but the Frenchman is head and shoulders the best option when you consider he could be available for free this summer, and Chelsea are already able to offer a pre-contract ahead of the summer.
Maignan is not likely to be receptive to offers while he is still in discussions with Milan, and he is not likely to consider a January exit, but the Blues should be in touch with his agent to be notified sharpish if he does become available. This will be seen as a unique chance for Chelsea to upgrade a position on the cheap, and Sanchez would likely be sold if they do manage to get him, given Filip Jorgensen is going to be more content in the number two role, and Mike Penders is also highly rated by those at the club.
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