Chelsea have been slapped with a two-window transfer window ban by FIFA after they were found guilty of contravening FIFA policy in their signing of youth players. The news means that the Blues will have to think carefully about how they operate this summer. They may have to keep certain players in the squad who they may have been planning to let go of this summer. One such player is substitute goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
Caballero’s contract at Stamford Bridge is due to expire this summer, but the club can choose to extend it if they wish to do so. As things stand, the Blues have the young Kepa Arrizabalaga as first-choice, 37-year-old Caballero as second-choice and 39-year-old Rob Green as third choice.
They can potentially promote a youngster to being third choice next season as Green should be released and will likely then retire from professional football. The third-choice keeper very rarely plays unless it is an emergency situation (Green has not played a minute of competitive football in nearly two years).
However, it may be a problem if both Green and Cabellero leave the club and they are forced to promote two young keepers to being back-up to Kepa. The second-choice keeper is often called into action in the event of an injury to the first-choice, poor form and is often deployed inc Cup games in order to provide the first-choice with a rest.
Caballero’s best years may be behind him but he is certainly still good enough to play Premier League football for at least another year. He played the full game during Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Tottenham in February and was solid in goal. Kepa was dropped for that game after infamously refusing to be substituted during the Blues League Cup final defeat against Manchester City.
Chelsea must extend Caballero’s contract this summer in order to ensure that there is sufficient competition for Kepa.
