Chelsea have been told to ‘break the bank’ and sign Jordan Pickford to bring an end to their goalkeeping issues.
The No.1 role at Stamford Bridge has come under increased scrutiny recently, with both Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen struggling to make the position their own.
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Sanchez was largely the undisputed first choice under former boss Enzo Maresca, but new boss Liam Rosenior has frequently rotated him with Jorgensen since his poor display in a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.
This saw the Spaniard dropped and replaced by Jorgensen, who then failed to keep the shirt after his errors proved costly in a 5-2 Champions League first leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Dane has since suffered a groin issue, leading to Sanchez’s return and resulting in five goalkeeper changes across six matches.
Rosenior has drawn criticism for his frequent rotation between the sticks, having refused to name one goalkeeper as his first choice.
Chelsea’s goalkeeping issues are nothing new, with the club struggling to find a top class stopper in recent years.
Despite Sanchez being incumbent number one for some time, the Blues were previously linked with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan last summer, while highly-rated prospect Mike Penders was signed in the same window and loaned out to Strasbourg.
‘Simple solution’
eSPORTY’s Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook has hit out at the situation at Stamford Bridge, and insisted they must replace Sanchez and Jorgensen by signing a proven, quality goalkeeper.
On the latest episode of Fiery Fridays, he began: “I just can’t take Chelsea seriously as a football club.
“I don’t understand the project, I don’t understand why the owners came in.
“We were being briefed that Chelsea were happy with their list of goalkeepers, they’ve got four or five who could be potential number ones.
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“They haven’t got a number one fit for purpose, Sanchez has proved that time and time again – Chelsea fans, that I know, are tearing their hair out with this fella.”
Take your Pick
Naming his solution to their woes, Crook urged Chelsea to make a play for Everton and England No.1 Pickford, who has established himself as indispensable for club and country.
Crook said: “My hot take is, there’s a simple solution – go and sign the bloke who’s just kept his 100th clean sheet for Everton. Go and get the England number one.
“Now he’s not in the first flush of youth, Jordan Pickford, but he’s not old in goalkeeping terms – he turned 32 earlier this month.”
Pointing out that Manchester United great Edwin Van der Sar was 40 when he retired, Crook argued that Pickford has plenty of legs left in him, and pointed to his impressive individual rise.
After starting out at Sunderland, the stopper made the move to Merseyside in 2017, before making his England debut that year.
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Despite facing criticism for his hot-headedness in his earlier days, Pickford has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent goalkeepers in recent years.
He boasts the joint-second highest number of clean sheets this term, an ever-reliable presence between the sticks for England.
Since making his debut, the 32-year-old has cemented himself as the Three Lions’ no.1 choice in goal, starring in their runs to back-to-back European Championship finals, as well as reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
Crook: Pickford would ‘prosper’ at a big club
On Pickford, Crook said: “You look at his career trajectory – he was at Sunderland, broke through there. He’s made his name at Everton.
“And I’m surprised that he’s been at Everton for as long as he has without one of the big boys snapping him up.
“He’s got rid of that character trait where he used to make big mistakes in games – I know he gave away a goal against Arsenal recently, but those errors have become few and far between, particularly in an England jersey.
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“You talk about England’s most important players at this World Cup and obviously Harry Kane and Declan Rice are right up there, but so is the goalkeeper.
“If anything happens to Jordan Pickford, we are in big trouble, and he relishes being the England No.1 – I think his personality befits that status and he would absolutely prosper at a big club.”
Stressing just how perfect a fit Pickford would be, Crook urged Chelsea to ditch their current, youth-focused transfer policy.
In the last summer transfer window, the Blues’ nine permanent arrivals were all aged 23 or under, with Joao Pedro the marquee signing having joined in a £60million deal.
Explaining the logistics of a deal, Crook continued: “It wont be easy to get him out of Everton, because he’s got a contract until 2029, but money isn’t an issue for Chelsea.
“I think they should break the bank and they should get rid of this ridiculous age limit where they only sign players 28 or younger, and go and get a proper No.1.
“And then maybe we can start to take Chelsea seriously as a football again.”
