Paul Scholes has urged Chelsea to replace Robert Sanchez before the summer transfer window closes, describing the goalkeeper as a 'problem' for new boss Xabi Alonso. The Manchester United legend believes Chelsea should move for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez after his proposed transfer to Juventus collapsed.
Martinez's Juventus move falls through
The Aston Villa goalkeeper and former Arsenal star, 33, was expected to join Juventus but his move to Serie A has seemingly collapsed. Juve were willing to pay 10m euros for Martinez – who has played in two World Cup finals, winning one of them – but Villa want at least £11m up front.
'I think the goalkeeper is still a problem for Chelsea,' Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. 'If I was them, I would have a look at the Aston Villa goalkeeper because his move to Juventus has just fallen through. I think he would be a good signing for Chelsea.'
Chelsea's summer spending spree
Chelsea have been one of the biggest spenders once again this summer, splashing out over £300m on more than ten new signings. The Blues made England midfielder Morgan Rogers the most expensive British player of all time in a £117m deal from Aston Villa, and also spent on Maxence Lacroix and Marco Palestra.
Chelsea were expected to dip into the transfer market for a new goalkeeper but Alonso appears content with his current options, with Sanchez still the No. 1 going into the new season. A number of pundits have advised Chelsea to replace Sanchez, who has made a number of high-profile mistakes since his £25m move from Brighton in 2023.
Owen backs Alonso's Chelsea for top-two finish
Chelsea finished just 10th in the Premier League last season but are widely expected to improve under Alonso, the former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder. In fact, Michael Owen has predicted Alonso's side will finish second in the Premier League behind reigning champions Arsenal.
'This could be way off the mark but they've got no Europe at all and you see how important that has been over the years,' Owen said on the same YouTube channel. 'It was brilliant for Manchester United last year. This manager [Alonso] did something similar with an unfancied team in Germany [Bayer Leverkusen], he's going to change a lot, they've bought well.'
Owen also has concerns over Sanchez but still expects Chelsea to 'catch fire' this season. 'There's a big question mark over the goalkeeper, I hear that,' the former England striker added. 'But I just think that could catch fire that team. They've got no European football to concentrate on and there's some good players there. I think Chelsea could have a big season.'
Chelsea last won the Premier League in 2017 under Antonio Conte and finished nine places and 33 points behind Arsenal last season.
