Chelsea hand new contract to back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli

Chelsea have handed a new contract to back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli

Chelsea have announced a contract extension for backup goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. His previous deal was due to expire this summer.

The 30-year-old, who was signed from Fulham on a free transfer in the summer of 2021, has only made one senior appearance for the Blues – a win over Chelmsford in the FA Cup.

The new contract will take his stay at Stamford Bridge until 2026. He has been a backup to Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy all this time so far.

It has been widely reported that Mendy could well leave the club in the summer because there are no advancements in his contract negotiations, while Graham Potter would let Kepa leave and buy a new keeper before the start of next season.

If they both leave, the club now at least has the experience of Bettinelli in that department before potentially signing a new stopper.

Chelsea have been linked with an array goalkeepers, including Brentford’s David Raya who has rejected new contract offers there, Illan Meslier of Leeds United and Diogo Costa of FC Porto.

To do well in a Potter system, a goalkeeper needs to be good with the ball at his feet along with shot-stopping capabilities. All three names mentioned above are good at that, with Raya having more experience compared to the other two.

If the Blues are aiming to replace Kepa and Mendy with a goalie, Raya should be the go-to option. If not him, then maybe look at other choices available in the market.

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On the other hand, with Bettinelli extending, only N’Golo Kante remains a player with his contract expiring in the summer. Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria are on that boat too, but they are loaned in players anyway.