Chelsea launch shock transfer bid for £12m-rated MLS star as Pochettino searches for Kepa replacement
CHELSEA are keeping tabs on New England Revolution goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s departure.
Kepa joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan to cover for another former Blues keeper in Thibaut Courtois, who could miss the whole campaign after rupturing his ACL.
According to The Athletic, the West Londoners are keen on Petrovic to replace the Spain international and have opened talks with his MLS club.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side has also made an opening bid for the Serbia international.
A deal could be reached in the range of £12million and talks between the two sides are ongoing.
The 23-year-old is highly-rated and many consider him the best goalkeeper in the US.
Chelsea signed Robert Sanchez from Brighton to reinforce Pochettino’s squad after Edouard Mendy’s departure to Al-Ahli.
However, the Argentinean tactician also lost Gabriel Slonina, who joined Eupen on loan.
Pochettino addressed the club’s continuing search for another goalkeeper before Sunday’s Premier League clash at West Ham.
The ex-Tottenham manager admitted Chelsea are “thinking and exploring all of the situations and possibilities on the market”.
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New England Revolution rejected bids from Nantes and Nottingham Forest, who ultimately got Petrovic’s predecessor Matt Turner from Arsenal.
New England insisted they didn’t want to lose their No1 before the end of the season and the summer transfer window in the MLS is now closed.
But Petrovic is keen to move to Stamford Bridge this summer and fight for a place between the sticks.
Revolution, who can still sign free agents, are preparing for the worst and are thus keeping tabs on Josh Cohen after an impressive season with Maccabi Haifa.