3 hours ago
1 ARTICLE AD
Published February 12, 2025 3:55pm Updated February 12, 2025 3:55pm
Chelsea have received a major boost in their pursuit of Gregor Kobel, with Borussia Dortmund planning for goalkeeper’s possible departure at the end of the season.
Dortmund are languishing down in 11th place in the Bundesliga table, having managed just two wins from their last eight top-flight matches.
With BVB now seven points adrift of the top four, Niko Kovac, who last month replaced Nuri Sahin as head coach, has an almighty battle on his hands in securing Champions League football.
According to Bild, Dortmund may be forced to offload some of their key assets in order to offset the financial losses that would be felt should they fail to qualify for Europe’s premier competition.
Kobel is named as one of the three players that Dortmund ‘have to consider’ selling in the summer should they miss out – and a deal could be possible for a fee in the region of €50m (£42m).
The 27-year-old ‘keeper is joined on that list by Jamie Gittens and Karim Adeyemi, who Dortmund value at around €80-100m (£67m-83.5m) and £50m (£42m) respectively.
Recent reports emanating out of Germany suggested Chelsea were eyeing a potential move for Kobel, with Robert Sanchez failing to impress between the sticks this term.
It’s understood Kobel has grown increasingly frustrated with Dortmund’s lack of silverware and could be open to the idea of swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League.
The Switzerland international has made 145 appearances in all competitions since joining Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2021 and has twice been named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.
His current contract at the Westfalenstadion runs through to the summer of 2028.
Chelsea’s current number one, Sanchez, has made a string of costly errors this season and was replaced in Enzo Maresca’s starting XI by Filip Jorgensen for the side’s recent win over West Ham.
Jamie Carragher has been an outspoken critic across the season of Sanchez and believes the Spaniard is ‘not at the level’ required to help win the club a major trophy.
‘I’ve been really disappointed with Chelsea,’ the ex-Liverpool and England defender said on the latest episode of It’s Called Soccer.
‘I never thought they could win the league at any stage because of the goalkeeper and the centre-forward, they’re not at the level. The centre-backs are not at the level either.
‘But this drop-off will be a real worry for the people at the top of the club.
‘If they don’t get Champions League football next season, having been there for a couple of years and spent that amount of money, that’s a disaster.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: The free agents Arsenal could sign to ease injury crisis including Chelsea legend
MORE: ‘It’s got to be, hasn’t it?’ – Ray Parlour names ‘dream signing’ for Arsenal this summer
MORE: Teddy Sheringham names player Man Utd should sign instead of Harry Kane
