Chelsea face goalkeeper crisis as back-up suffers injury just days after Kepa completes Real Madrid loan transfer
CHELSEA have been plunged into a goalkeeper crisis as back-up Marcus Bettinelli is confirmed as injured.
It comes after Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan, as a replacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
Mauricio Pochettino has chosen new £25m signing Robert Sanchez as his first-choice option between the posts this season.
Sanchez was originally signed to compete with Kepa for the starting spot.
But following the Spaniard's departure to Madrid, the Blues decided against a move to sign a top-level goalkeeper.
Club chiefs will instead target a young supporting option, with Todd Boehly setting a £20million budget to sign a back-up.
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Chelsea's urgent need to sign a new goalkeeper is now heightened by an .
As a result of his problem, which has so far not been explained, Under-21 shot-stopper Lucas Bergstrom was named on the bench for .
The 20-year-old is not considered ready for the first team and wants to go out on loan again this season.
Chelsea's limited budget for a new goalkeeper is likely to rule out moves for previous targets Gregor Kobel from Borussia Dortmund and Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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Both Kobel and Mamardashvili are likely to want to come in as the undisputed No.1.
and are increasingly open to selling Lewis Hall, who they value at £30m despite the young defender signing a new six-year contract just last week.
Chelsea smashed their own British transfer record to complete the £115m signing of Moises Caicedo.
The massive fee eclipses the previous £107m record Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in January.
, who has completed his medical ahead of a £58m move to Stamford Bridge.
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