Chelsea have been told they need to address a significant weakness in their squad before the summer transfer window closes, despite already investing over £300million in new players this season.
The London club could provide crucial support for Xabi Alonso’s side
One analyst believes Alonso’s main concern could be resolved by replacing current goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, with former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes the latest voice making this suggestion.
Sanchez, who is 28 years old, moved to Stamford Bridge from Brighton in August 2023 in a transaction worth £25million. While the Spanish shot-stopper has shown glimpses of his ability, notably during the Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain, he has not delivered these performances with any regularity.
This inconsistency has left Chelsea with an obvious area needing attention, although the club are not anticipated to enter the market for another goalkeeper before the September 1 cutoff. The plan appears to be continuing with Sanchez as the first-choice keeper and Mike Penders, who spent the previous campaign on loan at Strasbourg, as his understudy.
However, Scholes insists Chelsea would be making a serious error if they fail to bring in a new goalkeeper before the window shuts. During an appearance on The Good, The Bad & The Football, which is sponsored by Midnite, the former United player stated that the goalkeeper position remains a significant concern for Chelsea. He suggested looking at Villa’s goalkeeper Martinez, noting that Juventus had withdrawn from negotiations for his signature and that he would represent a solid acquisition for Chelsea.
Martinez’s situation at Villa is unclear, with Unai Emery’s team progressing towards a £30million agreement to obtain Japan’s international keeper Zion Suzuki from Parma. While director of football operations Damian Vidagany had previously indicated the Argentine would stay at Villa Park, he now seems destined to leave before the transfer deadline.
Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez during a match(Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Chelsea concluded the previous campaign in 10th position and will not be participating in European competition this term. Former Liverpool and Manchester United striker Michael Owen believes this absence of continental fixtures will benefit the team’s Premier League performance.
Owen predicted Chelsea would finish second in the league. He pointed to their lack of European involvement as a major advantage, citing how important this had proven over the course of a season, noting it had been beneficial for United the previous campaign. He added that Alonso had achieved something comparable in Germany with a team that nobody expected to succeed and would implement numerous changes at his new club. Owen expressed confidence in their transfer business, describing himself as a huge admirer of Joao Pedro and stating he considered him exceptional, suggesting Manchester United should have signed him four years earlier during his time at Watford when they lacked attacking options. He identified Joao Pedro alongside Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer as a potentially dangerous forward line. While acknowledging that signings like Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson appeared unusual and raised questions, he felt the squad could ignite into form since they had nothing else to focus on without European commitments, and with quality players available, Chelsea could enjoy a successful season.
Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign with a visit to Fulham on Monday evening. Their schedule then includes a Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town before hosting Brighton in west London.