Chelsea have reached out to Villarreal youngster, Filip Jorgensen, a talented 22-year-old Danish goalkeeper. They’ve been previously linked with him this summer as part of their search for a new keeper.
Rumours of a move for Jorgensen to Stamford Bridge had quietened down when he signed an extension with Villarreal back in June. But sources close to the deal state that Chelsea are believed to be closing in on the player as Enzo Maresca also wants him for greater assurance between-the-sticks.
Chelsea Close to Agreement
As per The Athletic, Chelsea are nearing an agreement for Jorgensen’s acquisition with a fee anticipated to be in the range of £16.8m and £21m. This is a notable discount from Jorgensen’s €45m release clause, indicating a mutual interest in reaching a deal. According to The Athletic, Marseille are also keen on the Danish goalkeeper though he would prefer a switch to Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca is keen to add another goalkeeper in the Chelsea ranks. He visualises playing in a more possession-based style at Stamford Bridge and Jorgensen will fit the bill perfectly.
Jorgensen’s Appeal
Chelsea had identified Jorgensen as a target in June when they spoke to his entourage about his potential future in England. Jorgensen was born in Sweden and started his youth career with Malmo before moving to Spain at the age of 12. That journey took him through a number of youth academies to eventually end up at Villarreal in 2016. Chelsea has mainly switched to a policy of recruiting youths over the past couple of seasons, and Jorgensen fits this principle well.
Highly rated for his sharp reflexes and prowess, Jorgensen was a standout performer even when Villarreal are defensively poor. For a goalkeeper, he has a brilliant passing record of 44.7 successful passes per 90 minutes. This ability is crucial for Maresca’s vision of a possession-oriented team.
However, Jorgensen’s lack of clean sheets is a concern which likely stems from Villarreal’s defensive issues. Additionally, his command of the penalty area requires improvement, particularly in dealing with set pieces and aerial balls, where he stopped only 5.2% of crosses into his box. Those are areas that Jorgensen will have to improve upon to make it through the Premier League.
Chelsea’s Goalkeeper Issue
Jorgensen has come a long way up from the Villarreal youth ranks. After spending his first senior season as a backup, he secured a starting spot last season and became a key player for the Yellow Submarine, helping them nearly qualify for European competition. His performances earned him a new five-year contract, but the allure of Premier League football and Chelsea’s interest may prove too tempting to resist.
Chelsea’s current goalkeeper situation remains uncertain. The club spent a total of £40m on Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic last summer. But the expected exit of Kepa Arrizabalaga means that a replacement is also needed who can take the top spot in between the posts. The arrival of Maresca may see Sanchez favoured as the No 1 keeper, but Petrovic’s future is in doubt – particularly if Jorgensen joins.
Sanchez, who moved to Stamford Bridge after losing his spot at Brighton, initially impressed under Mauricio Pochettino. However, a midseason injury sidelined him, allowing Petrovic to step in. Despite showing promise, Petrovic’s form dipped, making him a candidate for a loan move if Jorgensen joins Chelsea. Aside from Jorgensen, Chelsea were scouting other goalkeepers including Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili and Burnley No.1, James Trafford. The club are intent on enhancing their goalkeeping department as they continue to build towards the future under Maresca.
Filip Jorgensen’s ball distribution will be an essential part in Maresca’s tactics which focuses on keeping the ball to oneself as much as possible. So, while Jorgensen’s signing will provide some much-needed reinforcement in the goalkeeping department – he does needs to iron out a few aspects of his game.
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