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Robert Sanchez upgrade 'hoping' for Chelsea bid after contract gamble
Updated: 4 Jun 2026 05:59 BST |
5 min read
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SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu is "hoping" for a bid from Chelsea or another top club after taking a gamble that could massively backfire if he fails to secure a transfer this summer.
The Germany international, who was not included by Julian Nagelsmann in the DFB team's World Cup squad, is coming off his third season as Freiburg's starting goalkeeper.
A boyhood fan of the club, Atubolu rose through the ranks and has become a good Bundesliga goalkeeper. Freiburg backed him at a young age and stuck with him even when he made high-profile errors in his first senior campaign.
Current ETV
Noah Atubolu
GK
SC Freiburg
Noah Atubolu
GK
SC Freiburg
ETV Range
€16.4M - €20M
Now aged 24, Atubolu is determined to take the next step in his career. It has been known for months that the shot-stopper is looking to leave Freiburg. However, he is taking his time, and this is causing friction.
Freiburg are an exceptionally well-run club, and they moved quickly to snap up a replacement in the shape of Werder Bremen star Mio Backhaus, who was previously a target for Barcelona. They were initially reluctant to close the deal while Atubolu was still there, but they felt that their hand was forced.
Atubolu's gamble could backfire
According to Sky Germany, Atubolu isn't willing to just join any club - he wants the right project. Freiburg aren't best pleased about his dithering, though the report insists that the relationship between the two parties remains intact.
BILD, on the other hand, claims that Freiburg are quite upset and ready to take drastic measures. They reportedly informed Atubolu after the Europa League final loss to Aston Villa that he won't play for the club again.
His contract expires next year, so this is the final chance for Freiburg to generate a fee for him. They had been trying for months to get him to agree to a new deal, but Atubolu showed a "lack of respect" and did not respond because of his desire to move.
Should he now fail to secure a transfer, he would have to make do with a spot on the bench - or in the stands - next season. The two German outlets provide conflicting information on whether Atubolu has received concrete offers.
Sky states that he has already rejected major transfers, while BILD writes that there is currently no formal offer on the table for the 24-year-old. A proposed move to Newcastle is no longer an option, it is claimed.
This has now left Atubolu in an awkward position. It is claimed that the goalkeeper is hoping that a major Premier League club - Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool are explicitly named - will make a bid to help him out of his predicament.
Atubolu would be a Sanchez upgrade for Chelsea, but...
Aston Villa and Chelsea appear to be more realistic options than Liverpool, who are keen to keep hold of Alisson. Recent reports have suggested that Chelsea could dip into the market for a new goalkeeper, with Xabi Alonso said to want a more reliable No.1 than Robert Sanchez.
Mike Penders is set to arrive at Stamford Bridge after impressing on loan at Strasbourg, while it has also been claimed that Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen is currently being considered.
The 20-year-old has already toured Cobham, though he may actually be a replacement for Penders at sister club Strasbourg should BlueCo manage to successfully fend off competition for the €25 million-rated shot-stopper.
A transfer for Atubolu would make sense. Because of his contract situation and desire to move, he won't be too expensive. Moreover, analytics firm SciSports suggests that he could be an upgrade on Sanchez.
SciSports analyses hundreds of in-game data points to calculate a player's SciSkill rating and potential. While Sanchez currently has a higher SciSkill than Atubolu, the German is four years younger and still has significant potential.
He also has the beating of Jaouen for potential, but Penders is rated slightly higher. Atubolu can become one of the best goalkeepers in world football, SciSports believes.
However, there is one caveat which may also explain the supposed lack of offers for him. Atubolu still has the odd mistake in him that makes you question whether he can truly join the real creme de la creme of goalkeepers.
Even with three seasons of regular senior experience under his belt, the 24-year-old's technique and decision-making raise questions at times. There is a reason why Atubolu has yet to make his first-team debut for Germany, with Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nubel and now also 40-year-old Manuel Neuer preferred.
His price and potential could make him a shrewd signing for Chelsea, but the club would have to show the kind of faith in him that Freiburg displayed three years ago. The more elite environment of Cobham could help him iron out the kinks in his game.
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