Chelsea have a big decision to make with Mike Penders in the summer.
Chelsea have high hopes for Penders, so there is zero chance of the goalkeeper being sold in the transfer window.
It means Penders will either be integrated into the first team or sent out on loan again.
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Mike Penders and Robert Sanchez at Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea board divided on Mike Penders
The decision makers at Chelsea have agreed that Penders will definitely not be sold amid interest from other clubs.
However, they are split on whether he should be handed a position in Liam Rosenior‘s squad or loaned out for another season.
Journalist Simon Phillips has claimed on Si Phillips Talks Chelsea that while some on the Chelsea board feel that he is ready to compete to be the No.1, others believe he needs another loan.
The goalkeeper position at Chelsea has been a huge talking point of late after the dropping of Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen’s costly mistake against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Before all of that happened, it looked like Sanchez was going to retain his starting spot going into next season.
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Mike Penders should start next season as Chelsea’s No.2
It is quite clear that Jorgensen is not going to make it at Chelsea. When the Denmark international is given an opportunity, he tends to make a huge error.
Considering that, it makes sense to replace Jorgensen with Penders. Liam Rosenior thinks Penders is “outstanding” in possession, so he would likely approve of that.
Sanchez should start the 2026/27 season as Chelsea’s No.1, as he has been pretty much flawless other than his mistakes against Arsenal and red card versus Manchester United.
If more happen, then Rosenior should give Penders a shot. Sanchez should become the No.2 if Penders works out, but if not, the next move should be to sell Sanchez and sign a brand new No.1 who can do a job in the position until Penders is actually ready. What Chelsea decide to do will be interesting.
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