Chelsea target FREE world-class option for problem position

Robin Bairner
Robin Bairner
  • 26 Jun 2025 07:35 BST
  • 3 min read
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea
© IMAGO

Chelsea are ready to take advantage of an opening to sign a world-class player in a position that has been a problem in West London for years.

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Successive managers have tried to find Chelsea a consistent No.1, but despite brief heroics from Edouard Mendy, the Blues have failed to find a long-term solution between their sticks.

Robert Sanchez currently has the responsibility, but while he has done a solid job, there are doubts over whether he has the quality to lift the club the next level.

While there is no urgency to offload Sanchez this summer, Chelsea are attentive to potentially upgrading in goal should an attractive option reveal itself. That may just have happened thanks to Barcelona.

The Catalan side have signed Joan Garcia from Espanyol to give themselves three leading options in goal. Wojciech Szczesny is committed to remaining at Barca, leaving Marc-Andre ter Stegen frozen out.

The 33-year-old Germany international, who battled long-term injury for much of last season, is a player who Barcelona could potentially allow to leave for free, purely to get his substantial wages off the books. Indeed, there have been reports that the Blaugrana are willing to pay him a year’s salary to depart.

Compared
Player image Robert Sánchez
Robert Sánchez

GK

Chelsea logo

Chelsea

Robert Sánchez
Robert Sánchez

GK

Chelsea

Chelsea

VS

Player image Marc-André ter Stegen
Marc-André ter Stegen

GK

Barcelona logo

Barcelona

Marc-André ter Stegen
Marc-André ter Stegen

GK

Barcelona

Barcelona

€27.8M

ETV

€15.6M

€25M - €30.5M ETV Range €14M - €17.1M
27 years old (18 Nov, 1997) Age 33 years old (30 Apr, 1992)
Spain Spain
Nationality
Germany Germany

Ter Stegen to Chelsea: A possibility being monitored

Chelsea are one of the clubs monitoring his situation, according to CaughtOffside, which also reveals that Manchester United are following the veteran.

The Blues are looking at opportunities in goal without forcing the issue too much. Earlier in June, the West London side made a lowball offer for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

CaughtOffside claims that they have already checked in with Barcelona over Ter Stegen’s situation, and even if he is not considered to be a top-priority option for the club, is someone they are closely monitoring.

The opportunity to sign a goalkeeper with such vast experience, potentially on a free transfer, is something that Chelsea are unlikely to turn down.

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