Chelsea may not find it too difficult to sign one player who they are reportedly interested in.
With a new manager in Enzo Maresca arriving at Chelsea, there could be some changes this summer.
The Blues confirmed the appointment of Maresca as their new head coach on Monday, with the 44-year-old coming in to replace Mauricio Pochettino.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano recently claimed that Maresca is really happy to work with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
However, Chelsea are still being linked with shot-stoppers.
Chelsea could have great opportunity to sign goalkeeper on their radar
As of now, it looks like Maresca is going to start the 2024/25 season with Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic as his first and second-choice goalkeepers.
It has been reported that Chelsea do not want to sell the latter either.
The Blues, though, are still being linked with Burnley’s James Trafford, who looks available following his side’s relegation to the Championship.
According to talkSPORT, Chelsea are interested in the 21-year-old and Burnley are open to offers for him.
Would James Trafford be an upgrade on Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic?
Statistically, it does not look like Trafford, whom Vincent Kompany has described as “terrific”, would be.
For example, as per FBref, Trafford’s save percentage in the Premier League this season was 65.7%. That is exactly the same as Petrovic’s but lower than Sanchez’s (70.5%).
Of course, with Maresca being a manager who puts an emphasis on building up from the back and retaining possession, shot-stopping is not the only thing that needs to be taken into account.
It is a big thing, though, and Trafford does not appear to be superior in that area to Sanchez and Petrovic. Therefore, if Chelsea do want to sign a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window, then they should probably go for someone else.
But again, though, there seems to be a good chance of Sanchez starting the 2024/25 season as Chelsea’s No.1 following Maresca’s arrival from Leicester City, decreasing the need for a new goalie.