Problem position 

Five Chelsea goalkeeper transfer targets valued under €45 million

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Chelsea’s goalkeeping problems were thrust back into the spotlight during their damaging 5-2 defeat to PSG in the Champions League. Clearly uncertain over his preferred number one, Liam Rosenior has rotated between Filip Jørgensen and Robert Sánchez in recent weeks. Jorgensen was handed the opportunity in Paris but he made a glaring error at 2-2, which allowed PSG to take the lead and gain ascendancy late in the game.

“Players make mistakes,” said Rosenior. “Filip’s not the first one and that’s part of football. Credit to him, he held his hands up in the dressing room.Everybody makes mistakes. Sometimes they’re more costly. This is one of those moments. What we have to do for Rob and for Filip and for all of the players is look after each other.” Despite Rosenior’s impassioned defence of Jorgensen, Chelsea have a weakness in the goalkeeping department that must be addressed in the summer. It’s understood that Blues chiefs are inclined to provide Mike Penders his chance after impressing on-loan at Strasbourg but we’ve assessed five potential transfer options.

Five Chelsea goalkeeper transfer targets valued under €45 million

Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move for Bart Verbruggen and they’ve regularly signed players from Brighton across recent years. Since Clearlake Capital acquired sporting control at Chelsea, they’ve implemented a clear transfer strategy that focuses on younger talents and Verbruggen fits that policy at 23 – four of the five proposed options are that age. The Netherlands international is currently the second most valuable goalkeeper in the world and while he’s highly rated, there’s also question marks over the amount of errors he makes and how he will handle pressure at a substantially bigger club.

Robin Roefs has been a revelation at newly-promoted Sunderland and he’s been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season. The 23-year-old was a relatively unknown quantity when he joined the Mackems for €10.5m in the summer but he’s kept eight clean sheets in the league. Roefs remains relatively inexperienced at the highest level and has never played European or international football but there’s been speculation that he’s on Chelsea’s radar.

James Trafford is a fascinating option given he only returned to Manchester City last summer from Burnley. Trafford returned to the Etihad fresh from an unbelievable campaign in the English Championship, where he kept 29 clean sheets and he was promised the opportunity to become Pep Guardiola’s number one. That all changed, however, when Gianluigi Donnarumma was signed later in the window and Trafford is understandably displeased about the situation, which could cost him a place in the England squad at the World Cup. The 23-year-old reportedly already wants to leave in the summer and Chelsea could capitalise on an excellent market opportunity.

Zion Suzuki is the only player on the list without Premier League experience but he’s viewed as a potentially world-class goalkeeper. Suzuki famously rebuffed interest from Manchester United before joining Parma as he wanted to be first-choice and he’s impressed in Serie A. Chelsea have been heavily linked and at €20m, Suzuki would represent an affordable option but is he any better than the young goalkeeper already on Chelsea’s books.

Emiliano Martínez is a wildcard option, vastly different to the other mooted targets as he represents an experienced stopper. Chelsea’s policy of signing youngsters has attracted considerable criticism from disgruntled members of their fanbase and many believe an experienced goalkeeper would be beneficial to Liam Rosenior’s young side. Martinez has amassed over 200 Premier League appearances, has won the World Cup and would be keen on a move to London from Aston Villa.