Chelsea has already begun a £78m, three-year transfer strategy, with Enzo Maresca facing the same goalkeeping challenges that have plagued previous managers, following a recent mistake by Filip Jorgensen.
Just weeks after naming Jorgensen as his No.1 goalkeeper, Maresca refrained from confirming the youngster’s starting position for Tuesday’s match against Southampton. Chelsea’s search for stability and quality in goal continues.
It has been over three years since Edouard Mendy was Chelsea’s undisputed first-choice keeper, a status he held after replacing Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2020. Mendy’s stellar performances, including a pivotal role in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph, set a high bar, but since then, Chelsea has struggled to find a reliable replacement.
After Mendy, Kepa stepped in under Graham Potter but failed to offer long-term security, losing his place under Mauricio Pochettino. Chelsea then signed Robert Sanchez from Brighton and Djordje Petrovic to provide options in 2023, investing £40m of the £78m spent on goalkeeping solutions.
Jorgensen, the latest option, has shown promise, but Chelsea also has high hopes for teenage goalkeeper Mike Penders, currently developing at Genk. However, Penders’ progress may take years, making him unlikely to challenge for the No.1 spot soon.
Sanchez, in particular, has become unpopular with fans due to his poor track record, including several high-profile errors. Despite still being valued by Chelsea’s staff, Sanchez lost his starting role to Petrovic and later to Jorgensen. Maresca, preferring a ball-playing keeper, opted to loan out Petrovic, who struggled with handling mistakes but has shown improvement while on loan at Strasbourg.
Petrovic’s recent performances in Ligue 1 have been impressive, with improved shot-stopping and passing. This has led to discussions about whether he could have succeeded at Chelsea, where he was largely overshadowed by other goalkeeping options.
Jorgensen’s recent mistake against Aston Villa, allowing a volley to slip under him, further highlights Chelsea’s ongoing goalkeeping woes. Maresca has defended Sanchez’s footwork but acknowledged the goalkeeper’s inconsistency, which has resulted in mistakes leading to goals.
As Chelsea faces yet another summer of addressing its goalkeeping crisis, the club cannot rely on Penders for immediate solutions. Until a more stable option is found, Maresca will need to cope with inevitable errors from his current keepers, making it difficult to build consistent performances.
