Chelsea are likely to strengthen the goalkeeper position this summer, but they should be careful not to take a desperate approach to their search.
The Blues know they have an issue with Robert Sanchez, and it is a matter of time until the Spaniard is replaced. Sanchez is a good goalkeeper, but he does not have what it takes to be elite, and his inability to play consistently with the ball at his feet means he is unlikely to fit in well with Xabi Alonso's style of play.
Chelsea goalkeeper search takes a new twist
It's not a big secret that Chelsea are in the market for a new goalkeeper. The Blues tried to sign Mike Maignan from AC Milan last summer, so the club has not hidden its ambition to upgrade on Sanchez.
But the latest twist sees Crystal Palace and England goalkeeper Dean Henderson linked with a Stamford Bridge switch. According to Alex Goldberg, Henderson is among the targets to have been assessed by Chelsea heading into the summer.
Whether the report is accurate or not remains to be seen, but Chelsea have to have greater ambitions this summer. Henderson is a very good goalkeeper who deserves to make a step up in the Premier League, but he is not a clear upgrade on Sanchez.
Sanchez may have his issues, but he is still a very solid goalkeeper who could do well for any club without top four ambitions. To secure a clear upgrade on Sanchez, Chelsea must sign an elite goalkeeper, and the obvious option is AC Milan's Maignan, who continues to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
But Henderson does not fit the bill, even if he is coming off another impressive season with Palace. Chelsea have to be ambitious and make sure that recruits are of an elite level if they want to take this team from being top four outsiders to one that is capable of being involved in the title conversation within the next couple of years.
Those are the ambitions of those who are running the club, and the recruitment must match. This is already a very talented Chelsea squad, but it clearly lacks polished elite talent in a number of areas, and with no disrespect to Henderson, he does not fit into that category. And in his defence, there aren't too many truly elite players out there in any position, and goalkeeper is no exception.
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