Chelsea may already have 'world-class' goalkeeper to replace error-prone Robert Sanchez

Evening Standard

·27 Januari 2025

Chelsea may already have 'world-class' goalkeeper to replace error-prone Robert Sanchez

Blues have a decision to make over their much-maligned No1 after latest costly blunders

Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has been hailed as “world class” amid Robert Sanchez’s ongoing struggles at the club.

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Sanchez’s position as the No1 at Stamford Bridge has come under serious scrutiny once again over the last week after more high-profile errors.

The Spaniard dropped a corner to allow Matt Doherty to equalise just before half-time during Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Wolves last Monday, while at the weekend he charged out of his goal and was caught in no man’s land as he was lobbed by Erling Haaland for Manchester City’s crucial go-ahead goal in their own 3-1 victory against the Blues at the Etihad Stadium.

Those latest mistakes have led to more criticism and increased calls for Sanchez to be dropped for Chelsea’s next game, a London derby at home to Graham Potter’s West Ham next Monday night, though the former Brighton stopper has continued to receive the public backing of his manager.

“We trust Robert for sure but the first one that is completely aware he is making mistakes in this moment is Robert,” Enzo Maresca said after the loss to City.

“We trust Robert but now we have one entire week [until the next game], we see the reaction and then we decide for the next game."

Maresca could yet choose to turn to Sanchez’s deputy Filip Jorgensen, their £20million summer signing from Villarreal who has largely impressed in the cup competitions this season but made only two appearances so far in the Premier League.

Third-choice Marcus Bettinelli and youngster Lucas Bergstrom are also part of the current first-team squad at Chelsea, who loaned out Sanchez’s predecessor as No1, Petrovic, to sister club Strasbourg for the season last summer along with the likes of Caleb Wiley and Andrey Santos after he had made 31 appearances under former boss Mauricio Pochettino last term.

The Serbian international - a £14m signing from Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise New England Revolution in the summer of 2023 - appears to be showing his parent club what they are missing in France, having been in strong form and attracted huge praise from his manager after a 2-1 win over Lille on Saturday that took Liam Rosenior’s side up to ninth in Ligue 1.

"We have seen huge progress from Petro,” Rosenior said. “He is a world-class goalkeeper. We see it every day and it is still paying off today.”

Gabriel Slonina is another goalkeeper signed from the MLS by Chelsea in recent years and he recently returned to west London early from a loan spell at third-tier Barnsley due to injury.

Eddie Beach was also recalled from Crawley, while Kepa Arrizabalaga - previously the most expensive goalkeeper in history - remains under contract at Stamford Bridge and out on loan at high-flying Bournemouth. Belgian Under-19 international Mike Penders will join Chelsea from Genk in the summer.