It will be very interesting to see how Chelsea conduct their transfer business over the upcoming transfer windows. They have to stay in line with UEFA rules for a while, after being fined recently. That is one of the key reasons why they did not splash out in the summer. And it might stay that way for a little while longer.
That means that some of their transfer plans might need to change. And some might have done so as a result of the performance levels of their current players, not budget issues.
Robert Sanchez has been one of their standout performers this season. And it looks like that means the end of their interest in Mike Maignan.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano last night, no fresh talks took place between Chelsea and Maignan over a potential free transfer, despite recent reports. The club remain happy with Sanchez and their long-term development plan with Mike Penders.
Fabrizio Romano quietly dropped Chelsea transfer news last night
So, it looks like Chelsea are no longer pursuing the signature of Maignan. They had opened talks to sign him before the Club World Cup, but Sanchez's recent performances mean that the need for a first-team goalkeeper is no longer really there. The Spaniard has had a few rough seasons in the past but he has been excellent in recent months, except for that error against Manchester United.
In the long term, Penders might be the one they are viewing as their future number one. He is doing pretty well in Franch with Strasbourg but needs some time to develop further before he is ready to be a starter for Chelsea.
The situation of Filip Jorgensen might be one worth assessing, as it is believed that he is seeking a move away in search of first-team football. So, the club might need to bring in someone to be Sanchez's backup option.