Alternative view on Chelsea’s £39m goalkeeper puzzle

The pursuit of a reliable No.1 goalkeeper has been a recurring theme at Stamford Bridge. Only Eduard Mendy’s stellar performance during the 2020/21 season provided a semblance of stability in the role. Since Thibaut Courtois’s departure, Chelsea has been on the lookout for a custodian capable of holding down the fort between the sticks.

To address this ongoing quest, Chelsea is poised to secure the services of Djordje Petrović from the New England Revolution, reportedly for a fee of £14 million. The 23-year-old will vie for the coveted role alongside Robert Sanchez, acquired from Brighton & Hove Albion for a significant £25 million earlier in August. This manoeuvre comes in the wake of CFC’s decision to loan out Kepa Arrizabalaga to Real Madrid for a season due to Courtois’s ACL injury.

Petrović, boasting 43 appearances for his MLS side, and Sanchez, a presence in goal 91 times for Brighton, form Chelsea’s new goalkeeping tandem. The combined investment of £39 million brings two shot-stoppers who have yet to solidify their prominence. The relative lack of proven experience sparks legitimate doubts over whether they can be a substantial upgrade over Arrizabalaga. This comparison raises questions about the strategic logic underlying these hefty outlays in the goalkeeping department.

The introduction of two fresh goalkeeping talents further muddles the club’s hierarchy in this vital position. With Kepa’s loan term spanning just a season and no purchase obligation stipulated, a three-way battle for supremacy looms once Kepa reenters the fold. This impending complexity could usher in a period of uncertainty within the squad, casting potential shadows over the establishment of a secure defensive foundation.

The decisions to loan out Kepa and invest significantly in untested goalkeepers raise legitimate concerns regarding resource allocation and alternative avenues the club’s ownership might have explored. A telling parallel emerges when Brentford’s valuation of £40 million for David Raya is considered against the £39 million Chelsea expended on the duo. In hindsight, securing Raya for a similar amount could have granted Chelsea a proven and superior option.

Alternatively, retaining Kepa and facilitating a competition for the No. 1 position between him and Raya could have been a prudent route, fostering a healthy rivalry that could elevate the performance of both keepers. Presently, Arsenal boasts a deal for Brentford’s goalkeeper, wherein a £3 million loan fee and a £27 million buy option mirror the expenditure Chels‘ incurred for Sanchez—underscoring Arsenal’s astute transfer decisions.

In the last campaign, Brentford’s custodian dominated the goalkeeping statistics in several key areas:

Most saves: 154 (1st)
Saves from shots outside the box: 64 (1st)
Most touches: 1,882 (1st)
Long passes completed: 410 (1st)
Crosses caught: 50 (2nd)

These metrics highlight the absence of a commanding presence within Chelsea’s box who is also adept with the ball at his feet. Raya encapsulates the attributes that could fill the void in the CFC’s defensive setup.The faithful of the Blues can only hold out hope that either Sanchez or Petrović will rise to the occasion, providing the solution to their long-standing goalkeeping conundrum.