Chelsea Have No Need to Rush Another Upgrade Project

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Anyone that has not been living under a rock will be aware that Chelsea have splashed out well over £1 billion across the last few transfer windows.

Todd Boehly and the Blues’ ownership group have both speculated and accumulated, with long-term plans being drawn up at Stamford Bridge. Patience was always going to be required – a virtue that has been in short supply at times – but potential is being unlocked.

Two trophies were collected during the 2024/25 campaign, in the form of Conference League and Club World Cup silverware, with the promise of more to come. Having got a taste for the high life, the Blues are understandably keen to continue feasting.

Distant dream

It may be too early to contemplate a first top-flight title since 2017 being captured, with Premier League 2025/26 title odds pricing Chelsea as 33/1 shots, but that is no longer a distant dream.

A return to Champions League competition has been made, with football betting markets recognising the strength in depth that Enzo Maresca has at his disposal. There is, however, always room for improvement.

The best teams in world football are forever on the lookout for additions that will raise collective standards and bring major honours within reach. In Chelsea’s case, that means finding more recruitment funds.

Just about every area of their squad has been bolstered – with a revolving door being operated in west London – but questions will always be asked of whether further additions are required.

Plenty of focus at the Bridge has been narrowed on the goalkeeping department since Edouard Mendy began to slip out of mind and eventually out of sight. The arrival of Robert Sanchez in 2023 allowed a Champions League winner to be offloaded.

The Spain international arrived with useful Premier League experience under his belt from a stint at Brighton, but he has struggled to convince and earn universal approval. All goalkeepers know that their every move – and mistake – will be dissected in minute detail.

Sanchez will be the first to admit that the odd error has crept into his game, but they should not be allowed to overshadow all the good work that he has done.

Former Blues player and manager Roberto Di Matteo is among those to have spoken out in support of Sanchez. The Italian has said: “It wasn’t a priority over the summer for the club for a new goalkeeper. They are happy. Last season, two trophies. He’s very good. At the moment they focus on the negatives and I think it’s unfair.”

Unfortunate injuries

Sanchez has put himself in Premier League Golden Glove contention for 2025/26, with enough shutouts being secured to keep Chelsea on the fringes of title talk, having already landed that prize at the Club World Cup.

Unfortunate injuries, particularly across the Blues’ defensive unit, have done the collective cause few favours. Sanchez has fared admirably while operating behind an ever-changing back four.

Plenty of domestic rivals have found out the hard way that landing a reliable No.1 is not as simple as it sounds, with big money being wasted along the way, and it is easy to argue that Chelsea should delay any upgrade projects between the sticks until other areas of Maresca’s ranks have been addressed.