Chelsea prepared shock €70m deal for player in late transfer
Reports from Germany suggest Chelsea are willing to pay as much as €70 million for Borussia Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
With the January transfer window closing at 11 PM on Monday night, there are only a few hours left, and the Blues still have considerable work ahead.
Chelsea is still working to finalize several player departures, while also seeking to acquire both a midfielder and an attacker.
Chelsea prepared to pay up to €70m for Kobel
The Blues have been linked with Manchester City midfielder Nico O’Reilly, although whether they make a late move remains to be seen.
At this late stage of the window is seems unlikely an attacker will arrive, unless Chelsea have been quietly working on something behind the scenes.
Goalkeeper is another position the Chelsea supporters would like to see strengthened given the struggles of Robert Sanchez, who was booed in the defeat against Manchester City this month.
A keeper won’t arrive in this window, but it’s a possibility for the summer and the Blues are already being linked with names.
Chelsea have been linked with Dortmund’s Kobel in the past, and German publication Bild have now reported the Blues are “intensifying their efforts” to sign the 27-year-old.
The report adds that Chelsea would be prepared to pay up to €70m for the Switzerland international, a fee they claim Dortmund wouldn’t be able to turn down.
Kobel is under contract with the Bundelsiga outfit until 2028, and Manchester United could try and rival Chelsea for his signature.
The Swiss has made 27 appearances in all competitions for Dortmund this season, but has kept just three clean sheets with the Bundesliga outfit struggling struggling down in 11th place.
Chelsea fans will be hoping Sanchez is replaced in goal by Filip Jorgensen for the game against West Ham on Monday night, whilst the Blues are in desperate need of a world class keeper if they are to get back competing for the top prizes.