Chelsea are prepared to splash as much as £66 million to bring Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to Stamford Bridge. That's according to BILD, who on Thursday reported that the Blues are ready to make a move for the 27-year-old shot-stopper at the end of the season. Chelsea's current number one Robert Sanchez has made a number of high profile errors this season, leading to speculation that the club want to upgrade the Spaniard. Head coach Enzo Maresca has also made it clear that he doesn't trust Sanchez's back-up Filip Jorgensen, who moved to the Bridge from Villarreal in the summer, between the sticks in the Premier League.
BILD claim that Chelsea have now expressed an interest in Kobel, who is contracted with Dortmund until 2028, and would be willing to pay between £58 million to £66 million to lure him away from Germany. The publication also claims that Dortmund will struggle to keep hold of the Swiss international next summer should they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League qualification. Nuri Sahin's side missed out on qualifying for the competition this year having finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season, and look set to miss out again. They currently sit in eighth place midway through the campaign.
Kobel joined Dortmund from Bundesliga rivals Stuttgart in the summer of 2021 for a fee of around £12 million. Since, he's made over 130 appearances for Die Schwarzgelben, keeping 46 clean sheets and establishing himself as one of German football's top shot-stoppers. Speaking about Kobel after he signed a new contract with Dortmund last year, the club's sporting director Sebastian Kehl said: "In Dortmund, Gregor has developed into a goalkeeper of world-class calibre who has attracted the interest of many top clubs in Europe." Kobel’s former goalkeeper coach at Hoffenheim, Michael Rechner, meanwhile, once said of him: "As well as being a real talent, he’s mentally strong, inquisitive and willing to learn."
Chelsea should sign Kelleher, says former Liverpool star
While it's Kobel that Chelsea appear to have their hearts set on to upgrade Sanchez, former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer thinks it's wantaway Reds' keeper Caoimhin Kelleher they should instead try to land.
Kelleher asserted his desire to leave Anfield earlier this year, saying that he wants to "go and be a number one and play week in, week out."
The Republic of Ireland international has impressed when called upon for Liverpool over the last few seasons, but has never been able to displace Allison as the club's number one.
Arne Slot's side also have a new keeper arriving next summer in the form of Giorgi Mamardashvili, who agreed a move to Merseyside back in August.
McAteer, who made 139 appearances for Liverpool between 1995 and 1999, told beIN Sports that he believes a move to West London for Kelleher would be logical for both Chelsea and the player. “He’s going to have to make a big choice at the end of the season,” McAteer said. “If he wants a career somewhere else and play rather than just sit on the bench waiting to get in to play in a number of games for Liverpool, Chelsea is the big one.”
“Sanchez, I don’t think he’s [good enough]. I think [Chelsea] should get Caoimhin now,” he added.
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