BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella has been on the Chelsea beat for a very long time, so we trust his judgement and his sources when it comes to figuring out what the club is going to do next.
This international break has seen a lot of clamour for changes in goal after Robert Sanchez continued to disappoint fans with his performances, and there’s been the inevitable chatter about buying players to replace him.
But Kinsella has the sense that the number of options already on the books at Stamford Bridge makes it unlikely that any immediate investment will be made, and we tend to agree.
It’s pointed out that as well as Sanchez and summer signing Filip Jorgensen in the first team, there’s also last season’s number 1 Djordje Petrovic out on loan, as well as young talents like Gabriel Slonina, Eddie Beach and Mike Penders in the mix.
“It makes little sense to look to the transfer market for a goalkeeper and Chelsea will no doubt back their recruitment in feeling that there is already a long-term number one in their sphere of influence,” Kinsella wrote.
“Who that is will be down to the individual performers, with Sanchez to continue as number one into the winter period.”
Current goalkeeper options given plenty of runway to prove themselves
If Sanchez continues to struggle for the rest of the year – and potentially even loses his place, as he did a year ago, we can certainly see some summer business being done. That’s especially true if the team as a whole continue to get good results and look ahead of schedule. If there aren’t other clear areas to spend the money, why not upgrade your main weakness?
But Kinsella is probably right that the club will look to try out all of its many current options before spending more.
