Chelsea reach agreement for first signing of the Todd Boehly era. (Photo by Eddie Beach/Instagram)
According to Football.London, Chelsea have reached an agreement with Southampton for U18 goalkeeper Eddie Beach, beating ‘several clubs’ to his signature in the process.
18-year-old Beach led Southampton to the top of the U18 Premier League South, although they lost to Manchester City U18s in the National Final. Internationally, he has been capped six times by Wales U19.
Several clubs are understood to be interested in Beach, but now it seems that Chelsea are in pole position for the chequered flag in the race for the talented, young Welsh goalkeeper.
Chelsea are also closing in on another goalkeeper, but this one’s from across the Atlantic. USMNT and Chicago Fire’s 18-year-old Gabriel Slonina is expected to finalise terms with the Blues very soon.
Although very talented, neither Beach nor Slonina is expected to play a role in the first team this season. Kepa Arizzabalaga could be seeking a move away for regular game-time, which would leave Chelsea in need of a deputy for first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
This transfer window is a massive one for Chelsea, and they will have to use every last stretch of it to plug multiple voids in their current squad.
Several names could depart too. Two already have – Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. The club is also open to entertaining offers for Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner. They have to address concerns in midfield too, to provide cover for N’Golo Kante, who is not getting any younger.
Signing two young and talented goalkeepers doesn’t solve the current crisis, but helps with a blanket for the future. Mendy is 30 years old, and Chelsea will need a replacement for him in the not-so-distant future.
Slonina and Beach will have plenty of time to make their case at Cobham, granted they seal a move to SW6. That is especially the case if Kepa leaves in the near future. But then again, it remains to be seen what happens to Nathan Baxter, who had a decent loan spell at Hull City.
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