Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea’s work in the window has gone down well with supporters, but if there is one more signing that Blues fans would like, it is a new goalkeeper. Robert Sanchez looks set to remain as the club’s no.1.
Last season, Sanchez made a string of errors. It saw the Spaniard – devoid of confidence – axed by Liam Rosenior for games against PSG and Aston Villa. Filip Jorgensen’s injury forced Rosenior to start Sanchez.
Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders save percentage
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The Blues are set to announce their 11th signing of the summer window in left-back Pep Chavarria this week, as Xabi Alonso eventually gets his first-choice replacement for Marc Cucurella through the door.
But at the end of last season, Chelsea fans were crying out for a new goalkeeper. Somehow, Sanchez looks set to start the new season as the club’s first choice, and Mike Penders could be the reason why.
Simon Johnson shares what Sanchez thinks of Mike Penders
Penders, a £17m signing back in 2024, is now set for his first season at Chelsea having returned to Genk before an impressive loan at Strasbourg last year. There were suggestions Penders might be first choice.
Sunderland v Chelsea - Premier League
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Sanchez looks set to remain as Alonso’s no.1, but Penders is proper competition for the Spaniard. No doubt, Sanchez will start against Fulham, but Penders will get the nod against Luton in the Carabao Cup.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, The Athletic’s Simon Johnson was asked why Chelsea have not signed a new goalkeeper. He explains that Chelsea do not want to block Penders’ pathway, with Sanchez a big fan.
“I spoke to Rob Sanchez the other day. He’s a huge fan of Penders himself, which is quite funny given Penders is a big rival. He said this guy is going to be massive, literally too, talking about his height.
“He thinks [Penders] is going to be massive in the game. Chelsea are in a stick-or-twist situation. They’ve got this great young goalkeeper, but they don’t want to sign someone that’s going to get in his way.
Chelsea's goalkeeper Mike Penders (R) attends a training session
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“There is an element too that Sanchez was having a really good season until Rosenior took over. Under Rosenior, he was being asked to do things that he wasn’t capable of doing; playing out from the back.”
Should Chelsea have signed a new first-choice goalkeeper?
At the start of the summer, Chelsea had a six-man shortlist of goalkeepers. A list that included Jordan Pickford and Porto’s Diogo Costa. Recently, Shay Given suggested Pickford would be perfect for Chelsea.
Mike Penders and Robert Sanchez at Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Reports of Chelsea being in ‘advanced talks’ for Costa have been deemed wide of the mark. With just two weeks to go until the start of the season, Chelsea will battle for the top four with Sanchez as first choice.
Having Sanchez as first choice means Chelsea will make defensive mistakes. But Johnson makes a good point: bringing in a big-name goalkeeper would eventually see Penders forced to leave Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea rate Penders highly and clearly, so does Sanchez. Even the former Brighton man sounds like he knows he will eventually lose his place to the Belgian. Perhaps Chelsea have planned for the future, then.