Much has been made, and said, about Chelsea’s bloated squad this season, and Enzo Maresca has handled the rotations, loan departures and new signings incredibly well with the majority of positions nailed down in terms of first team and second-string team members. However, one position that proved troublesome for the Blues throughout the season is that of the goalkeeper.
Maresca has struggled to have a nailed down number one, and whoever he has picked has often let him and the club down in various ways. With the end of the season fast approaching, and the summer transfer window imminent, what can Chelsea do to solve their problems between the sticks?
Current Frontrunners
Robert Sánchez and Filip Jörgensen have been Chelsea’s main men in goal this season, with Sánchez predominantly the number one for the Premier League, and Jörgensen stepping up in the cup competitions and for rotation. However, both keepers have largely had a season to forget, with Maresca chopping and changing his first choice frequently and both gifting high profile errors to the opposition.
A lot has been said about not winning the league without a top tier goalkeeper, and the current sentiment certainly seems to be that neither the Spaniard nor Dane has what it takes to carry Chelsea back to the top of the table. Maresca has been vocal in his support for both and highlighted that they are growing with the young squad as everyone else is. But, when you look at previous Chelsea title winning teams, the likes of Petr Čech and Thibaut Courtois were instrumental in guiding them home. It seems unlikely that the current pair have that level of ability in them.
The Loan Army
As in the majority of positions, Chelsea have a number of options out on loan throughout Europe who will be looking to make a name for themselves as the new number one. The most prominent name muttered among the Stamford Bridge faithful is that of Djordje Petrovic. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a standout season on loan at sister club Strasbourg and many are clamouring for him to be Chelsea’s number one for the 2025-26 season. The Serbian has the build, confidence and has heavily grown his ballplaying ability whilst in France and could be the name that Maresca looks to for the next campaign.
Besides Petrovic, the name of Mike Penders is another which is being thrown around, and one the Chelsea hierarchy has very high hopes for. Aged only 19, it is unlikely the Belgian would go straight into the first eleven, with a loan move looking more probable for next season before slowly being integrated into the first team.
Finally, one Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is somehow still on Chelsea’s books, is having a fantastic season on loan at Bournemouth. With rumours that the Cherries are looking to make the signing permanent, and given Kepa is now on the other side of 30, it seems highly unlikely he’ll ever have a future once more at Stamford Bridge.
It remains to be seen what Maresca will do with his wealth of goalkeeping options, but should Petrovic be made the number one for next year, it is likely that one of Sánchez and Jörgensen would be sold to accommodate that, and it’s fair to say that few Chelsea fans would miss either of them.
