Chelsea have been urged to sign former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsdale to solve their ‘massive problem’ in the goalkeeper position.
The Blues are no closer to finding a long-term No. 1 despite having several goalkeepers on the books.
Robert Sanchez started the season as Enzo Maresca’s first-choice goalkeeper but was dropped after making more mistakes that led to goals than any other shot-stopper in the Premier League.
Filip Jorgensen was handed a chance after Sanchez was axed but he too has struggled, making a shocking howler in Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa.
Maresca now faces a dilemma over who to pick for Chelsea’s upcoming games with Southampton and Europa Conference League rivals Copenhagen.
Ex-Chelsea defender Jason Cundy insists the goalkeeper situation is a ‘massive problem’ for his former club and says Ramsdale would be an ‘improvement’ on the current options.
Ramsdale made almost 100 appearances for Arsenal before being displaced by David Raya and leaving to join Southampton last summer.
While the 26-year-old was desperate for more game-time, his decision to join Southampton looks questionable as the Saints are on the verge of relegation with just nine points from 26 games.
Dropping into the Championship could force a player who still hopes to add to his five England caps to push for a summer move and Cundy insists Ramsdale would be an ‘improvement’ for Chelsea.
Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher was named as another possible option for Chelsea, with the Irish goalkeeper once again struggling for minutes at Anfield following Alisson’s return from the treatment room.
‘The goalkeeper has turned out to be a massive problem for Chelsea,’ Cundy said on talkSPORT.
‘Jorgensen dropped an absolute dolly against Aston Villa. We did enough to get a point there and the keeper made a howler, it was devastating for Chelsea.
‘I would definitely have Ramsdale. That’s an improvement. Kelleher at Liverpool is another one they’re looking at.
‘Clearly the goalkeeper situation has been a bit of a disaster. Sanchez got the gloves and over the last three months it’s been quite obvious that he’s suffering. There’s been a lot of goals and mistakes.
‘I think they will be looking to replace Sanchez unless they think [Djordje] Petrovic who is out on loan is good enough. But clearly it’s been an issue all season and something has to change.’
Maresca admitted Jorgensen was ‘sad and upset’ after his mistake against Aston Villa but suggested he would keep his place in the team ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Southampton.
‘He is okay,’ Maresca said at his pre-match press conference. ‘He feels a little bit sad, or upset, because he recognises there has been a mistake but overall, he is okay.
‘If we need to change players every time there is a mistake, we need to change players game by game, many players. But no, nothing’s changed.’
On the threat of bottom-placed Southampton, Maresca added: ‘I don’t trust games like this, they can be tricky games.
‘When you are here at Chelsea, there isn’t a game where we aren’t preparing to win. Our duty is to prepare every game to win.
‘From now on we have 12 games to go and it is no doubt that all 12 are must win for us.’
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