SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Blackburn vs. Preston: 14 hrs 54 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Chelsea transfer latest: Former Premier League goalkeeper on Caoimhin Kelleher as Robert Sanchez replacement

:Headline: Chelsea transfer latest: Former Premier League goalkeeper on Caoimhin Kelleher as Robert Sanchez replacement:
A former Premier League goalkeeper tells Sports Mole that Chelsea could benefit from signing Caoimhin Kelleher if he can deal with pressure at the Blues.
Sports Mole
'He's a very talented goalkeeper': Should Blues replace Sanchez with Kelleher?

Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Michel Vorm has exclusively told Sports Mole that while Caoimhin Kelleher is an excellent shot stopper, he would be faced with increased pressure at Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca defended the performances of first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who was arguably at fault for Erling Haaland's goal on Sunday, as Manchester City won 3-1 against the Blues.

Sanchez was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £25m, but he has at times struggled with his decision-making.

Speaking to Sports Mole about the possibility that Chelsea might swoop for someone like Kelleher, Vorm heaped praise on the Irishman but questioned if he could deal with the expectations at Stamford Bridge, saying: "[Kelleher] showed that he's a very talented goalkeeper. He's done so well. But people also need to understand if you make a transfer to Chelsea, they pay a lot of money and you're becoming the number one - it's a different pressure.

"Everyone knows he's a good goalkeeper, but if you're coming in a new club with different players, a different style of play and you're becoming the number one, it brings a lot of pressure in a different environment. So, it's very hard to say [if he would do well]."

Kelleher has been Liverpool's second-choice goalkeeper for a number of years and though he impressed earlier this season when he filled in for Alisson Becker, he has only started eight times in the Premier League in 2024-25.

Kelleher's experience at Liverpool

Kelleher's figure of eight starts in the league is just two shy of his career high of 10 starts in the top flight in 2023-24, though Liverpool are unbeaten with him in goal this term, winning 12 and drawing two in all competitions.

The 26-year-old is excellent with the ball on either foot, boasts a strong penalty shootout record and is able to make point-blank saves thanks to his good reflexes.

Vorm spoke of his belief that Chelsea will act in the upcoming transfer market and argued that Kelleher's Premier League experience could be important when the Blues consider targets, telling Sports Mole: "He showed in the Premier League already that he's a very good goalkeeper, so if he leaves, he will make a very good transfer.

"I think that definitely something is going to happen in goalkeeper land in general, so we will see what's going to happen. It's an interesting one, but Chelsea love to spend."

Kelleher's contract at Anfield expires in the summer of 2026, and the Irishman could represent a relatively opportunistic signing given Liverpool will likely look to sell him while they still can, especially as goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to join the Reds this summer.

Do Chelsea already have internal solutions?

Chelsea have spent over £1bn in the transfer market since Todd Boehly arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2022, including significant sums on goalkeepers Gabriel Slonina, Dorde Petrovic, Filip Jorgensen and Sanchez.

The Blues also loaned out Kepa Arrizabalaga to Bournemouth this season, and Maresca is certainly not short of options should he look to internally replace Sanchez in the summer.

Vorm told Sports Mole that there is every chance that one of those goalkeepers could impress and cement their claim on the starting spot, and even expressed his view that Sanchez could himself improve, saying: "Chelsea signed already quite a lot of goalkeepers [that] are still on contract - also some young goalkeepers [that] they paid a lot of money for.

"It's interesting to see what's going to happen because even Kepa is still on the contract and he's doing well at Bournemouth at the moment. I think also this is something for a goalkeeper like Sanchez - if he plays well till the end of the season, who knows?"

Chelsea have started Jorgensen in goal in all six of their Conference League fixtures, so perhaps the competition could help Maresca decide if the Blues' long-term goalkeeper is already at the club.

Michel Vorm was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of 888sport. body check tags ::

amp_article__564175 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2025-01-29 09:46:01:
html db last update - 2025-01-29 09:46:01 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Robert Sanchez

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Share this article now:
BD
Read Next:
Changing of the guard? Chelsea identify successor to 'unimpressive' Sanchez
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Robert Sanchez Caoimhin Kelleher Enzo Maresca Erling Haaland Michel Vorm Alisson Becker Giorgi Mamardashvili Todd Boehly Gabriel Slonina Dorde Petrovic Filip Jorgensen Kepa Arrizabalaga Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Changing of the guard? Chelsea identify successor to 'unimpressive' Sanchez
Signs of progress! Man United book last-16 Europa League spot with strong display in Romania
Guardiola's Champions League nightmare? Premier League clubs' opponents revealed
Chelsea's N'Golo Kante receives Saudi Arabia offer?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22165154213353
2Arsenal23138244212347
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2313553327644
4Manchester CityMan City23125647301741
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle23125641271441
6Chelsea23117545301540
7Bournemouth23117541261540
8Aston Villa2310763435-137
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2381053531434
10Fulham238963431333
11Brentford2394104240231
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd2385102832-429
13Crystal Palace236982630-427
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2376102844-1627
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs2373134637924
16Everton225891928-923
17Leicester CityLeicester2345142549-2417
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2344153252-2016
19Ipswich TownIpswich2337132147-2616
20Southampton2313191653-376
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Thursday's Europa League predictions including FCSB vs. Man United

1

TE
Thursday's Europa League predictions including FCSB vs. Man United

Preview: Newcastle vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PN
Preview: Newcastle vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

Preview: PEC Zwolle vs. Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PP
Preview: PEC Zwolle vs. Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

Moore goals to come? Spurs sensation breaks 67-year-old record

4

MG
Moore goals to come? Spurs sensation breaks 67-year-old record

Could Rodri return to help Man City win the Champions League this season?

5

CR
Could Rodri return to help Man City win the Champions League this season?

Preview: Nijmegen vs. PSV - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PN
Preview: Nijmegen vs. PSV - prediction, team news, lineups

Dias, Ake, Doku, Bobb latest: Man City injury list for Arsenal clash

7

DA
Dias, Ake, Doku, Bobb latest: Man City injury list for Arsenal clash

Could Arteta be without Raya? Arsenal injury list for Man City clash

8

CA
Could Arteta be without Raya? Arsenal injury list for Man City clash

Preview: Bournemouth vs. Liverpool - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

Preview: Nott'm Forest vs. Brighton - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PN
1x1


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .