Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly closely monitoring Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
According to a report in The Mirror, Chelsea could battle it out with Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who is being courted by a host of traditional big six clubs.
A Seagulls’ academy graduate, Sanchez previously endured successful developmental loan spells at lower league teams such as Forest Green Rovers and Rochdale before breaking into the first-team picture at the Amex Stadium, making his senior debut in November 2020.
Since then, he has become a regular staple in between the sticks for the south coast outfit. To date, the Spaniard has made 77 Premier League appearances and has been superb throughout his tenure, keeping a respectable 25 clean sheets in the process, while only shipping 1.11 goals per game on average.
The 24-year-old has stood out for his long-range distribution, reaction saves and commanding vocal presence, as well as his dominance in collecting crosses and high claims.
Contracted until the summer of 2025, the Seagulls No. 1 has been in great form again this season and has recently been rewarded with selection in Luis Enrique’s Spain squad for the World Cup, beating Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea to punch his ticket to Qatar.
Indeed, elite clubs are already circling around Sanchez for next summer. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have both expressed their interest in the Spanish international, with the former eyeing him as a long-term solution to replace long-serving veteran Hugo Lloris.
Mirror has now come up with reports that Manchester United and Chelsea are closely “monitoring” his situation and see him as a potential replacement for their respective No. 1s.
Manchester United, for one, have been on the lookout for a new goalkeeper for a while now as they plan for a long-term replacement for the current goalkeeper, David De Gea, whose current Old Trafford contract expires this summer.
And while United hold a one-year extension option on his deal, they do have a big decision on their hands. With De Gea currently on a deal worth around £350,000 a week, there is a school of thought that the club would be better served by investing in a young ball-playing goalkeeper, with doubts over the abilities of De Gea to fit into Eric ten Hag’s ball-oriented play out from the back style of play.
Sanchez is a competent passer with the ball, an aggressive sweeper, and has quick reflexes that allow him to make a few crucial saves in clutch moments. Nine years younger than United’s current No. 1, Sanchez would represent the Red Devils’ long-term vision as they continue to back Ten Hag in the transfer market to assemble a squad compatible with his philosophy.
As for Chelsea, new boss Graham Potter doesn’t seem all that convinced by the goalkeeping options at his disposal and has yet to decide on his first-choice option at Chelsea.
The former Brighton head coach, who gave Sanchez the breakthrough at Amex, started his tenure with a resurgent Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, but Edouard Mendy has stepped in due to the former’s injury. Potter is a big admirer of Sanchez and would be keen to unite with the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge.
