CHELSEA have been plunged into a goalkeeper crisis as back-up Marcus Bettinelli is confirmed as injured.
It comes after Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan, as a replacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
AFPMarcus Bettinelli is sidelined with injury[/caption]
GettyRobert Sanchez seems to be the only keeper available left at Chelsea[/caption]
Mauricio Pochettino has chosen new £25m signing Robert Sanchez as his first-choice option between the posts this season.
Sanchez was originally signed to compete with Kepa for the starting spot.
But following the Spaniard’s departure to Madrid, the Blues decided against a move to sign a top-level goalkeeper.
Club chiefs will instead target a young supporting option, with Todd Boehly setting a £20million budget to sign a back-up.
Chelsea’s urgent need to sign a new goalkeeper is now heightened by an injury to third-choice option Bettinelli.
As a result of his problem, which has so far not been explained, Under-21 shot-stopper Lucas Bergstrom was named on the bench for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
The 20-year-old is not considered ready for the first team and wants to go out on loan again this season.
Chelsea’s limited budget for a new goalkeeper is likely to rule out moves for previous targets Gregor Kobel from Borussia Dortmund and Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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Both Kobel and Mamardashvili are likely to want to come in as the undisputed No.1.
Chelsea need to offload players to balance the books and are increasingly open to selling Lewis Hall, who they value at £30m despite the young defender signing a new six-year contract just last week.
Chelsea smashed their own British transfer record to complete the £115m signing of Moises Caicedo.
The massive fee eclipses the previous £107m record Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in January.
The Blues are closing in on the signing of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, who has completed his medical ahead of a £58m move to Stamford Bridge.
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