This is probably not the first time Chelsea’s transfer business has been described as ‘shocking’ in recent times.
And the kid-in-a-sweetshop approach to recruitment brought to Stamford Bridge by Todd Boehly and Clearlake is starting to raise eyebrows outside of England too.
Earlier this week, Chelsea confirmed the big-money signing of Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal. That, in itself, could yet prove to be an outstanding piece of business.
Villarreal, after all, felt they had a special talent in the Sweden-born Denmark Under 21 international. HITC understands that Jorgensen had been watched by the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City too before Enzo Maresca got his man.
It is not the identity of Chelsea’s new £20.7 million shot-stopper that has raised eyebrows, however. More the fact that Stamford Bridge was already home to Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic, the highly-rated Lucas Bergstrom and, lest we forget, the returning former Real Madrid loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Suddenly, there is a very real prospect that Sanchez – a £25 million signing from Brighton and Hove Albion just last summer – or the impressive Petrovic begins the season without a place in Chelsea’s matchday squad.
Just to add to the sense of bemusement hanging around The Blues, HITC understands that yet another talented shot-stopper is now set to sign on the dotted line.
Another goalkeeper is joining Chelsea in Mike Penders
Chelsea have agreed to sign KRC Genk teenager Mike Penders for a fee of around £17 million.
And while the 18-year-old will return to the Jupiler League outfit on loan for the 2024/25 campaign, news of Penders’ impending switch to the West London outfit has pundits over in Belgium baffled.
The Under 19 international only made his official first-team debut in Genk colours, after all, during last week’s 0-0 draw with Standard Liege in the opening round of fixtures.
“To read right after his first official match for Genk that he is on his way to Chelsea – and for such an amount – that is shocking,” scoffs Franky van der Elst, the 86-cap former Rote Duivel midfielder tells Het Nieuwsblad.
“(This sort of transfer activity is) unprecedented. Maybe even unheard of.
“What Chelsea is doing now – buying, buying, buying and then hoping that one of the many transfers will pay off – I really do not think is good for football.
“Chelsea has seven or eight goalkeepers, right? They just paid 25 million euros for Filip Jorgensen; also a young goalkeeper, but three years older than Penders and already a first-team player at Villarreal for a season.
“So he will definitely have priority in the near future.”
Battle ahead with Filip Jorgensen at Stamford Bridge
On the other hand, Van der Elst can understand why Penders might have caught the eye of Chelsea.
New head coach Enzo Maresca – a disciple of Pep Guardiola’s – is possession-based tactician obsessed with playing out from the back.
And Penders, Van der Elst explains, is the prototype of a ‘modern goalie’ boasting ‘impressive posture, composure and good feet’.
But while Penders will stay at Genk until 2025, the former Club Brugge enforcer cannot hide his concern as another young player agrees a move away from the Jupiler League before even scratching the surface of his potential.
Time will tell if Penders can emulate Jeremy Doku’s success at Manchester City, or whether he will instead struggle for minutes like former Royal Antwerp wonderkid Arthur Vermeeren at Atletico Madrid.
“I thought it was a regrettable development that young guys like Vermeeren and Doku are leaving Belgium earlier and earlier,” Van der Elst adds.
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