Chelsea should be looking at Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, says John Obi Mikel (Picture: Getty)
John Obi Mikel has implored Chelsea to find an upgrade for Robert Sanchez and encouraged the club to explore a transfer move for James Trafford.
Chelsea have set out their stall in the opening weeks of the summer window under new manager Xabi Alonso, moving away from their purely youth-led transfer policy after a desperate tenth-placed finish last season.
A stunning £117million move for Morgan Rogers came as a statement of intent to Chelsea’s rivals, with Arsenal initially understood to have been in pole position for the Aston Villa and England midfielder.
Meanwhile, the Blues have turned to experience with the addition of both Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, who boast a combined total of nearly 1,000 appearances between them in the Premier League.
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The west London giants are also expected to announce the arrival of Racing Santander left-back Pep Chavarria imminently following the departure of Marc Cucurella for Real Madrid earlier in the summer.
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There appears to have been little movement when it comes to Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation, though, despite widespread calls for Sanchez to be replaced after three error-strewn years at Stamford Bridge.
‘I’ve said it so many times that Sanchez is not that guy. He is not that guy that will win us trophies,’ ex-Chelsea midfielder Obi Mikel said on The Obi One Podcast.
Obi Mikel believes Chelsea must move on from Sanchez (Picture: Getty)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 28: Robert Sanchez of Chelsea reacts during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
‘Everybody knows that! I can’t keep repeating myself here every time, every season, week in, week out.
‘I’m sure Xabi Alonso knows that, the club knows that. Why can’t we rectify that?
‘We’re building a solid team right now, we’re bringing in players that can help improve the squad.
‘It’s the one place that every Chelsea fan is crying out for, not just me. Every Chelsea fan is crying out for that position.’
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Obi Mikel is adamant that Sanchez is neither ‘reliable’ or ‘consistent’ enough to be able to be Chelsea’s number one for the long-term.
‘I’m sorry, Sanchez is not the guy who can help push us to win trophies. We’ve seen him make so many mistakes,’ he added.
‘He’s not reliable, he’s not consistent, and for us to be able to go from where we are right now to try and build a winning team, we need consistency.
‘If you look at last season that’s what’s lacking from the team: experience, consistency. We made way too many mistakes on the pitch, way too many red cards, way too many discipline issues. That’s what we need to rectify then the big issues will find a way.
Trafford was limited to just four Premier League appearances last season (Picture: Getty)
Leeds United are reportedly edging ever closer to signing Trafford having already agreed personal terms with the 23-year-old this summer.
It comes after a desperately disappointing debut season for Trafford at Manchester City last term, in which Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival blocked his path to regular playing time.
According to Obi Mikel, Chelsea should be looking to hijack Leeds’ move for the ‘talented’ England international.
‘I’m looking at a goalkeeper from Manchester City: James Trafford,’ he explained.
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‘He’s there, he’s available. Why don’t we go and get him, James Trafford? Why don’t we just go and get him?
GIRONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 01: Arsenal FC Head Coach Mikel Arteta looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Girona FC and Arsenal FC at Montilivi Stadium on August 01, 2026 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
‘Everybody is trying to get him right now. Gianluigi Donnarumma is there [at Manchester City], Donnarumma is going to play.
‘He [Trafford] wants to play. An English goalkeeper, a young and talented goalkeeper, 23 years old. Why don’t we go and get him? Leeds are trying to get him right now.
‘He’s good with his feet, he’s a very, very good shot-stopper.
‘We saw how he played before Donnarumma arrived, I think he’s a really, really good goalkeeper. Why don’t we go and get him?’
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