Chelsea have held talks with the agents of Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel over a deal in the summer.
Gregor Kobel, 25, has done well for Borussia Dortmund since joining in a €15 million deal from VfB Stuttgart in 2021. He has been one of the key performers behind Dortmund’s title challenge this season, with Edin Terzic’s side just two points adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich after 24 games.
The Switzerland international caught the eye in the Champions League Round of 16 tie against Chelsea, where he made a series of saves for Dortmund in what turned out to be a Man of the Match performance in their 1-0 first-leg win at Signal Iduna Park. The goalkeeper missed the second leg at Stamford Bridge through injury last week as Chelsea dumped Dortmund out of the Champions League with a 2-0 win (aggregate 2-1).
Chelsea reportedly held talks with Kobel’s representatives in London before the second leg against Dortmund. Apart from the Blues, Manchester United are also interested in the 25-year-old shot-stopper but he prefers to stay at Dortmund for at least another season.
Chelsea unsure of Kepa and Mendy?
For Chelsea, the goalkeeper situation is certainly something to keep an eye on this summer. Kepa Arrizabalaga has performed decently, even sensational at times this season, but his long-term future at the club remains uncertain.
In Edouard Mendy, Graham Potter has an able if error-prone deputy to Kepa. The Senegal international lost his place as Chelsea’s undisputed No.1 in November, and since returning from the World Cup, he has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. He rejected the Blues’ new contract offer last year, which could prompt the club to offload him at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
Both Mendy and Kepa will have just two years left on their contracts in June, and the former after rejecting a new contract offer looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge.
Gregor Kobel attracting interest from Chelsea and Man United
Currently rated by many as Bundesliga’s best goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel is enjoying a solid season with Dortmund. And his performances between the sticks have not gone unnoticed, with Chelsea and Man United among a host of clubs keeping tabs on the 25-year-old.
Man United boss Erik ten Hag could decide to move on from David de Gea, who has had a mixed campaign until now. Chelsea, on the other hand, may recruit a new goalkeeper to potentially replace Mendy ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Kobel would be a fantastic option for both clubs due to his excellent shot-stopping abilities, solid distribution and sweeping skills. With Dortmund expected to demand €40- €50m for the Swiss, it will be interesting to watch which club decides to make a concrete offer for him.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.