Chelsea closing in on €20m Robert Sanchez upgrade; new first-choice goalkeeper?

Chelsea are on the brink of agreeing a deal with Villarreal for goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are on the cusp of signing Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.

The Pensioners have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the transfer market, showing their intent to back new head coach Enzo Maresca, who has arrived at Stamford Bridge after guiding Leicester City to the Championship title last season. Having reinforced the squad with six signings already, Enzo Maresca wants more.

The Italian tactician wants a new goalkeeper who is supposedly composed with the ball at his feet. This has seen Villarreal’s Filip Jorgensen emerge as a target for Chelsea. And negotiations between Chelsea and Villarreal have seemingly progressed well for Jorgensen after the former made an initial €20m bid earlier this week.

From his official X account, Fabrizio Romano claims that Villarreal have indicated they want a bit more than €20m and the Blues have improved their proposal. They remain in talks with the Spanish club over the structure of a deal for the Danish goalkeeper, who has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea.

Chelsea revamped their goalkeeping department last summer, signing Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic from Brighton and New England Revolution, respectively. Sanchez started as the club’s new No.1 after Kepa Arrizabalaga was farmed out on loan to Real Madrid, but he largely didn’t convince. The Spaniard’s debut season in west London was ravaged by a knee injury, limiting him to just 16 Premier League appearances.

Petrovic stepped up and deputised well in Sanchez’s absence, but with Mauricio Pochettino gone and replaced by Maresca, the Serbian is seemingly not considered for the first-choice role between the sticks. Owing to last season’s instability in goal and Maresca’s preference for a well-equipped ball-playing shot-stopper—a key component of his tactical setup—Chelsea are set to sign Jorgensen from Villarreal. He will potentially be our club’s third goalkeeping recruit in the last two years.

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Jorgensen broke into Villarreal’s first team this past season, making 36 La Liga appearances in the process. He impressed with his composure on the ball, shot-saving and command in the box—traits which have perhaps charmed Maresca and Chelsea into making a move for him.

At 22, the Sweden-born Danish gloveman is very young for a goalkeeper and could develop immensely under Maresca and his coaching staff whilst competing with Sanchez for the No.1 spot. With a deal in the closing stages, let’s hope Jorgensen passes his medical quickly and joins Chelsea’s squad for the pre-season tour in the US.