Robert Sánchez has been Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for the past three years. Though he has improved, he’s not exactly managed to make a convincing case that he’s truly worthy of those credentials. But it’s not like his backups have done otherwise.
Đorđe Petrović believed he did when he won the job halfway through the season under Mauricio Pochettino, but after Poch walked, DJ was farmed out to RC Strasbourg then sent away to Bournemouth. He’ll get to play European football next season, so that’s
worked out well for him.
Filip Jörgensen, however, has not been able to establish himself even when given multiple chances over the past couple years — culminating in that unmitigated disaster of a performance against PSG away in the Champions League quarterfinals. Jörgensen disappeared from public sight after that (sent for some sort of random minor surgery?), and though he reappeared towards the end of the season, it was basically assumed that his Chelsea career was over.
And that indeed looks to be the case, with reports yesterday claiming that the 24-year-old has told the club that he wants to leave. There were stories of him already wanting out in January, so this is certainly not a surprise. And it certainly would be a shock if Chelsea were to insist on him staying again.
Corollary to Jörgensen leaving is also the expected return of Mike Penders from his loan at Strasbourg. The youngster did well enough over the course of the season and is highly rated, though I’m not sure making him the new backup is the best step for his development. And surely, making him the first-choice for Chelsea would be a very bold move.
So that’s a bit of a dilemma, but unless something drastic happens and maybe someone remembers Gaga Slonina, it looks like our goalkeepers will be Sánchez and Penders next season.
