Chelsea have just submitted a bid for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez who has become their primary target to compete with Kepa Arrizabalaga. CFC failed to secure any of their first choice of goalkeepers as they were prized out for the likes of Andre Onana and Mike Maignan from Inter Milan and AC Milan respectively. Onana has since joined Manchester United and French goalkeeper Maignan looking set for a stay at San Siro, Chelsea decided not to sign a first choice goalkeeper and move forward with Kepa as the number one.
But with Brighton’s decision of letting go of the Spain goalkeeper, Chelsea are now looking to secure the signature of the 25-year old-as someone who is capable of either becoming Mauricio Pochettino’s new No.1. Pushing current first choice Kepa to improve his performance level is another element.
Robert Sanchez featured 23 times last season before dropping out of the starting lineup in March. Brighton manager Robert De Zerbi has since preferred Jason Steele over Sanchez stating that Steele was better suited to his preferred style of playing out from the back. With Sanchez having only two years left on his Brighton contract and with his omission from the squad playing friendlies in America, Chelsea are looking to add depth in their own goalkeeping department after the departure of Edouard Mendy to Al Ahli this summer.
Sanchez has the backing of Ben Roberts who is now in a wider management role in goalkeeping at Stamford Bridge. With the current injury to Marcus Bettinelli, CFC only have young goalkeepers like Gabriel Slonina, Lucas Bergstrom, Eddie Beach and Jamie Cumming, all of which have travelled with the squad to America after Kepa Arrizabalaga which puts Chelsea in an uncomfortable position if Kepa sustains any injury.
Chels‘ are still far from an agreement with the seaside side and anticipate difficult negotiations after struggling to find any agreement for midfielder Moises Caicedo. Slonina is said to have a broad agreement in principle to join Belgium side KAS Eupen on loan for the upcoming season but Chelsea remain open to alternative options.