Petrovic and Sanchez are NOT Maresca’s answer to Chelsea’s goalkeeper problem

Chelsea have spent more than €1 billion on players since Todd Boehly’s takeover in 2022 but Enzo Maresca’s are set to continue investing in a crucial problem position in the team. Article continues under the video The Blues have brought in 34 players in the two years under their new owners, leading to a squad size of more than 40 first teamers, but ‘only’ three of their signings have been goalkeepers, none of whom appear to have convinced Maresca of their credentials.

Chelsea signed youngster Gabriel Slonina for €9 million in 2022 before spending €39m on Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic last year, but Maresca has asked the club to bring in a new shotstopper this summer, as FootballTransfers exclusively revealed. Maresca believes none of Chelsea’s keepers are capable of executing his possession-based style of play and the club will now look to bring in a new number one.

At least one of Chelsea’s goalkeepers will have to leave, with speculation suggesting that Petrovic could be the player most likely to make way this summer. With forgotten goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also set to depart and Slonina likely to be loaned out, Maresca’s has recognised that Chelsea’s need for an elite goalkeeper should become one of the club’s top priorities this summer.

Petrovic v Sanchez – which keeper comes out on top?

No team in the top half of the Premier League underperformed their xGA more than Chelsea last season, with their shotstoppers conceding 0.4 more goals than expected to. While that number may appear insignificant, Chelsea were the only team in the top nine to have a negative performance with their xGA, with Manchester United , for example, conceding 16.76 less goals than their xGA.

Considering Chelsea also conceded more goals than any other top-eight team, there is certainly room for improvement between the sticks for the Blues. Sanchez started 16 of Chelsea’s Premier League games last season before suffering an injury in December, which led to Petrovic replacing him for the final 22 matches.

However, Petrovic conceded more goals per game than Sanchez and also had one of the worst xG prevention rates in the league, ranking 21st of 25 goalkeepers.