Fabrizio Romano has just dropped his latest update on Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation.
The insider says that after a disappointing year on loan at Real Madrid where he lost his place to youngster Andriy Lunin, Kepa Arrizabalaga will return to Chelsea. It should be no surprise that’s the case, given Thibaut Courtois is now fit again and Lunin has proved himself a solid deputy.
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1790356414273069095
The Basque goalkeeper has been a millstone around Chelsea’s neck due to his huge transfer cost and wages. Every summer they’re faced with the impossible task of working out what to do with him. It seems that dance will be repeated this summer too.
A four way puzzle – with a fifth to be added
Kepa’s return was always to be expected, and now Chelsea have some major questions in terms of squad planning at the back.
They’ve bought 3 goalkeepers in the last two years: Gabriel Slonina, Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic, for a combined £46.3m. Kepa will join them to make a group of four.
The problem is that none of them look good enough to be a long-term option for us. Petrovic has been decent since replacing Sanchez just before Christmas, but hasn’t really looked like a future superstar.
The club will want to move on at least two of these options in the summer, and it will be very interesting to see who is loaned, who is sold and who is kept.
Long term a world class goalie will be vitally important – but is this the summer we see that happen? We’re not so sure. There are many areas of need, and we can’t see a fifth option being added to the mix, so unless one of the current crop is moved on, it looks like another year picking from between this group of middling options.
