Robert Sanchez feels he is ‘the appropriate player’ for the style of play that Enzo Maresca intends to install at Chelsea, and he is ready to compete for the number one spot next season.
Sanchez joined Chelsea from Brighton for about £20 million last summer, and the 26-year-old made 21 appearances between the posts in his debut season for the west London club.
The Spain international was forced to split the gloves with Dorde Petrovic throughout the season, as neither goalkeeper was able to establish a dominant position prior to Maresca’s appointment as head coach.
Chelsea was obliged by circumstances to go back on the transfer market this summer, and many well-known goalkeepers, like Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford, Bento, and Jordan Pickford, have been connected in recent weeks and months.
According to the most recent sources, Chelsea has turned its attention to Filip Jorgensen of Villarreal. The Blues are rumored to be nearing a deal after putting in an initial bid for the highly-regarded 22-year-old.
However, Sanchez is confident he has the quality and character to make the position his own at Stamford Bridge for the long-term.
‘I am training hard to get that position. I’ll get some minutes and we’ll go from there,’ Sanchez told talkSPORT.
‘I always think playing with my feet is my game. I feel really comfortable with what [Maresca] wants.
‘He has explained what he wants from me and I’ve been doing it in training, and it’s looking really good at the moment.
‘I know what I can bring to the team. I am positive. It’s a totally different [style]. The goalkeeper here needs to “have a pair” and show a bit of personality. I think I am the right guy for that.
‘Right now, I’m feeling really confident in training. It’s looking good. It’s about just being a bit different to what a normal goalkeeper is like, you need to have a bit of arrogance, hold the ball, show a bit, and like I said ‘have a pair’ and show a bit of quality.’
Reports this week indicate that Chelsea are open to the idea of selling Petrovic to free up space for a new ‘keeper ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The 24-year-old Serbia international was omitted from Chelsea’s squad for the club’s pre-season tour of the United States due to a minor injury and while he is set to join his team-mates over the coming days, his long-term future remains in doubt.
After spent the previous season on loan at Real Madrid, Kepa Arrizabalaga is anticipated to finish his time with the Blues before to the transfer deadline.