Chelsea contact Mile Svilar over transfer move | OneFootball

Chelsea lack world-class players in several key positions despite shelling out north of $1.3 billion to assemble their current squad.

The Blues don’t have a lethal striker, consistent wide options, a defender with leadership qualities, and a reliable goalkeeper.

The latter has been a massive concern for Chelsea, with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen underwhelming between the sticks.

Sanchez has made the most errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season (five). His kicking is jittery, and his decision-making is ponderous. Summer signing Filip Jorgensen is not much better, failing to convince those at Stamford Bridge.

Many pundits and Chelsea fans have urged the club to enter the market for a new goalkeeper, and it appears their demands may be heard, with the club reportedly eyeing AS Roma man Mile Svilar.

Svilar has kept 11 clean sheets in 29 Serie A appearances this term. For comparison, Sanchez and Jorgensen recorded six. The 25-year-old Serbian international has also managed three shut-outs in the Europa League.

Since his Benfica days, Svilar has grown in leaps and bounds to become one of the better goalkeepers in the Italian top flight. It is no surprise Chelsea and Bayern Munich are interested.

However, Chelsea already have too many goalkeepers on their books and must sell some before adding another (if they even need to).

Sanchez and Kepa Arrizabalaga need to be shifted off the books while Mike Penders and Dorde Petrovic return from loan.

Petrovic has impressed in Strasbourg and should get another shot at Stamford Bridge before the Blues consider shelling out more money on a new goalkeeper. Jorgensen can play back-up to the much-improved Petrovic.

Penders can replace Petrovic at Strasbourg, continuing his development before returning to Chelsea.

Svilar is a potentially solid addition that would bolster Chelsea, but Petrovic’s showings in France mean the Blues might not follow up on a deal to sign him.