Former Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith has said Chelsea must find a quality replacement for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez before the summer transfer deadline if they are to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Sanchez's position as Chelsea's number one has been repeatedly questioned during an error-strewn three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, and those doubts resurfaced on Monday night. Joao Pedro scored after just 31 seconds to give the Blues a flying start against Fulham, but Sanchez produced several shaky moments as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.
Joshua King saw an effort awkwardly parried behind by Sanchez before trying his luck again from a similar position minutes later, this time beating the Spain international far too easily at his near post.
Smith's verdict on Chelsea's goalkeeper
While Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer struck either side of half-time to put Chelsea back in control against their local neighbours, Gonzalo Garcia capitalised on another blunder from Sanchez to set up a tense finish at Craven Cottage. The visitors held firm to claim all three points in Xabi Alonso's opening Premier League match in charge.
Asked if Chelsea need to find a new goalkeeper to challenge for the title, Smith told Sky Sports: 'Yeah, I think so. He's certainly a weak point and he started the game as if he had no confidence whatsoever. He miskicked an attempted clearance and then to get beaten from that angle, it was an awful moment for him.'
'I'm sure Josh King let fly not really thinking he was going to score. He caught it well enough, King, but it's a real blooper from the goalkeeper,' Smith added.
Transfer window concerns
'It might be now that they have to go into the market and buy a position that they didn't think they would be doing so we'll wait and see on that one with interest,' Smith said. 'They've obviously spent quite a bit in this pre-season and whether they've got much more money to spend, we'll wait and see, but that could hold them back really badly I think.'
Despite the questions over Sanchez's future, Smith was impressed with Chelsea's attacking display. 'Listen, that strike trio that we saw at Fulham is as good as any really and it looks like they've got the capabilities to build a really good understanding,' the former Arsenal forward continued.
'Cole Palmer was in imperious form, Joao Pedro is looking like a proper centre-forward and Morgan Rogers got on the scoresheet as well so they're really enjoying the football. They're going to take some stopping going forward but obviously they endured one or two problems defensively, gave away a couple of soft goals and it wasn't just the Sanchez mistake.'
Smith added: 'Xabi Alonso will want to address that in the coming days and weeks, but when you've got attackers like that… and not just the three I mentioned, the boys off the bench as well, people like Estevao, so Alonso has a lot of options going forward.'
Neville echoes criticism
Manchester United legend Gary Neville made similarly strong comments about Sanchez while commentating on Chelsea's win over Fulham for Sky Sports. 'Robert Sanchez does undermine Chelsea's position. He makes a lot of errors and it just can't happen that, it can't happen,' the former England right-back said.
'It will undermine everything Chelsea do. It's a problem for Chelsea and I don't think if Emiliano Martinez is available, but they need someone like that.'
Alonso may be tempted to take Sanchez out of the firing line for Chelsea's Carabao Cup second-round clash with Luton Town on Thursday evening. Three days later, the Blues will look to continue their winning start in the Premier League at home to Sanchez's former club Brighton.
