Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Robert Sanchez from Brighton, with the Spanish goalkeeper signing a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
The west London side sold Edouard Mendy to Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli earlier in the summer window, and have been on the lookout for a player to come and provide cover and competition to Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is likely to start the season as Mauricio Pochettino’s first choice goalkeeper.
Now, they have found it in the form of 25-year-old Sanchez, who is thought to have cost around £25m. The Spaniard appeared 90 times for Brighton, keeping 29 clean sheets in the process, but fell out of favour with Roberto De Zerbi and was frozen out of the Seagulls squad for the second half of last season, with 32-year-old Englishman Jason Steele taking his place.
He becomes Chelsea’s fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson to bolster their frontline, as well as Monaco defender Axel Disasi. They have also signed young talents Angelo and Lesley Ugochukwu, but the pair are expected to be loaned out to feeder side Strasbourg for the upcoming campaign.
They are far from done, however.
Caicedo next?
Pochettino’s side remain keen on Sanchez’s teammate Moises Caicedo, but are yet to agree a deal for the Ecuadorian star. The Blues have seen four bids, most recently one worth £80m, turned down by the Seagulls.
Now, Chelsea’s chances appear to have been further clouded as another club have been reported to table a bid, though that too fell short of the valuation and was rejected immediately.
They are beginning to eye up alternatives as it seems increasingly likely that Caicedo will remain a Brighton player, while Pochettino’s side have also seen a bid rejected for 20-year-old striker Elye Wahi.
