According to Football Insider, Chelsea are reportedly ready to step up their pursuit of Robin Roefs with a view to bringing the goalkeeper in during the summer. The future of Robert Sanchez remains uncertain, with the Blues eager to add competition between the sticks, while Sunderland values their stopper at £50 million.
The future of Robert Sanchez could be decided in the summer following another string of unimpressive performances. The Spanish shot-stopper’s future was called into question last summer when the Blues actively pursued a new goalkeeper, but they were unable to sign Mike Maignan, with the Frenchman their main target.
With Sanchez performing admirably at the Club World Cup and then starting the season strongly under former boss Enzo Maresca, the Spaniard’s form has dipped since. That has resulted in Chelsea now actively looking for a new goalkeeper ahead of the summer, with a few names being linked, including Tottenham target Robin Roefs.
The Sunderland stopper is reportedly valued at £50 million following a string of impressive performances for the Black Cats since joining them in the summer. The Dutchman is proving to be a shrewd purchase for the Premier League newcomers and, given that he possesses attributes that some of the top clubs look for in their goalkeepers, the club are not looking to sell him on the cheap.
Sunderland may not stand in Roefs’s way if he wishes to leave the club for a bigger challenge, but at the moment, he seems settled. Chelsea are in the market for a new stopper, and it remains to be seen whether they are willing to fork out the money required to sign the £50 million-rated goalkeeper.
Roefs has shown plenty of attributes that are currently needed in a Premier League goalkeeper, including shot-stopping, command of his box, and the ability to play out from the back, which ticks all the boxes for a modern custodian. Chelsea have such an option in Sanchez, but the Spaniard’s consistently error-prone displays may have forced them to decide to bring in a new goalkeeper.
Signing Robin Roefs could prove effective for Chelsea in their bid to add a new goalkeeper and bring competition for places. This pursuit does not necessarily mean that Sanchez will be sold; rather, it may indicate that the club are considering keeping both for next season, with the idea of letting them battle it out for the No. 1 shirt.
