Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca reportedly makes a decision over how to handle the goalkeeping situation at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has reportedly made a decision over how to handle the goalkeeping situation at Stamford Bridge.
On Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that the Blues had chosen to replace Mauricio Pochettino with the Leicester City boss on a long-term contract.
As part of the conditions of his appointment, the Italian will allegedly have minimal say in what players arrive and leave the West Londoners, that responsibility instead falling to the recruitment team.
Nevertheless, reports indicated that Maresca was hopeful of improving as many as four different positions, the majority of them involved in the defensive area of the pitch.
There is allegedly an openness at Chelsea to acquire a new goalkeeper, someone which is comfortable with the ball at his feet with Maresca adopting a ‘play-from-the-back approach’.
The Europa Conference League qualifiers have subsequently been linked with Burnley’s James Trafford and at least two alternatives from La Liga.
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Maresca to place faith in Sanchez
However, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Maresca is prepared to place faith in Robert Sanchez, who has barely featured since December.
Sanchez had been first choice under Pochettino until he suffered a knee injury in December, allowing Djordje Petrovic to take his chance between the sticks.
Once he had recovered, the Spain international was largely kept on the substitutes’ bench, only featuring in FA Cup ties against Leeds United and Leicester City.
With Chelsea needing to raise funds in order to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations, the assumption was that Sanchez would be put up for sale.
Instead, the 26-year-old will be kept in Maresca’s squad for the 2024-25 campaign, potentially being promoted to first choice ahead of Petrovic.
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Sanchez benefits from Roberts stay
Although Maresca is bringing a number of staff with him from the King Power Stadium, Ben Roberts is remaining as Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach.
Roberts is familiar with Sanchez from their respective times at Brighton & Hove Albion, the hope seemingly being that it will help with Sanchez’s development.
As it stands, it appears that Marcus Bettinelli could remain as third-choice stopper, with American youngster Gabriel Slonina in line for another loan move away.