{"id":573,"date":"2026-08-06T22:18:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T22:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=573"},"modified":"2026-08-06T22:18:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T22:18:29","slug":"chelsea-set-for-51m-mistake-as-stamford-bridge-insiders-share-stance-on-best-in-the-world-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=573","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea set for \u00a351m mistake as Stamford Bridge insiders share stance on &#8216;best in the world&#8217; target"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-379978\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow\"> <a class=\"fw\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thechelseachronicle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Xabi Alonso and Chelsea have worked wonders in the market. Going into the summer, priorities included a left-back, a centre-back, and experience. All three areas have been sorted.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pep Chavarria is incoming, Maxence Lacroix is onboard and both Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck have been drafted in to provide leadership, Premier League know-how, and to be managers on the pitch.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"5a9c74ee-9dfb-4c17-80a3-f12c2bcadb5e\" data-story-name=\"Talk Chelsea\" data-comment-id=\"2d65cfa2-5d7a-4475-8f0d-4838ed7b79f3\" data-story-slug=\"talk-chelsea\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<p><h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">Thoughts after another pre-season defeat under Xabi Alonso?\ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/08\/player-ratings-5-819x1024.png\" alt=\"Chelsea player ratings vs Juventus\" class=\"wp-image-379860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/08\/player-ratings-5-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/08\/player-ratings-5-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/08\/player-ratings-5-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/08\/player-ratings-5-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/08\/player-ratings-5-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/08\/player-ratings-5.png 1080w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 05: Moises Caicedo of Chelsea runs with the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Chelsea and Juventus at Kai Tak Sports Park on August 05, 2026 in Hong Kong, China.  (Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)\">Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>But there is one element of the squad that remains untouched, despite many supporters believing it was a priority going into the summer market. <a href=\"http:\/\/thechelseachronicle\/club\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Chelsea<\/a> have not signed a new goalkeeper, as things stand.<\/p>\n<p>Robert Sanchez was Chelsea\u2019s no.1 last season, but the pressure got to him. His confidence was at rock bottom; it led to mistake after mistake. Liam Rosenior dropped him for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/chelsea-first-team-star-set-to-finalise-loan-move-after-flying-back-from-pre-season-tour\/\">Strasbourg-bound Filip Jorgensen<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-chelsea-insiders-share-decision-on-porto-goalkeeper-diogo-costa\">Chelsea insiders share decision on Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa<\/h2>\n<p>At the start of the summer window, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/transfer-news\/xabi-alonso-makes-brutal-mike-penders-decision-as-six-man-chelsea-shortlist-created\/\">a six-man shortlist was leaked<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/diogo-costa\/\">Diogo Costa\u2019s<\/a> name was on it, along with Jordan Pickford and others. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/diogo-costa-would-be-great-for-chelsea-but-shay-given-has-suggested-an-even-better-signing\/\">Shay Given has said this week that Chelsea should sign Pickford<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The goalkeeping position remains an issue. Reports from Portugal this week claimed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/transfer-news\/out-of-the-blue-chelsea-are-now-reportedly-in-advanced-talks-for-new-goalkeeper\/\">Chelsea were in \u2018advanced talks\u2019 to sign Costa,<\/a> who has a \u00a351m release clause in his deal. Costa even left the door ajar.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2283818510-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Goalkeeper Diogo Costa of Portugal\" class=\"wp-image-376396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2283818510-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2283818510-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2283818510-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2283818510-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2283818510-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2283818510-750x500.jpg 750w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 2: Goalkeeper Diogo Costa of Portugal looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by John Jacques\/Eurasia Sport Images\/Getty Images)\">Photo by John Jacques\/Eurasia Sport Images\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But according to The Mail\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/kierangill_DM\/status\/2084959515653361809\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Kieran Gill<\/a>, Chelsea insiders have made it clear that Costa is not on the agenda this summer. The Blues are happy with their current options in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/robert-sanchez\/\">Sanchez<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/mike-penders\/\">Mike Penders<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Gill reported on X: \u201cChelsea insiders insist they have not made enquiries for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, and are happy heading towards the new season with Robert Sanchez &amp; Mike Penders.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-diogo-costa-was-the-best-in-the-world-four-years-ago\">Diogo Costa was \u2018the best in the world\u2019 four years ago<\/h2>\n<p>Still only 26, Costa is vastly experienced. He is just two games away from completing 250 appearances for Porto, and two caps shy of playing 50 times for Portugal. Costa has a contract until the summer of 2030.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"a7ff3fe3-a05c-423f-9e8c-99ae14865441\" data-story-name=\"Chelsea Transfers\" data-comment-id=\"c6f2d7fc-2f12-443a-8bca-2543e83baa7e\" data-story-slug=\"chelsea-transfers\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">Who would you prefer to see in goal next season, Diogo Costa or Robert Sanchez?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">Chelsea are being linked with the Porto keeper!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/Diogo-Costa-Robert-Sanchez-819x1024.png\" alt=\"Diogo Costa's and Robert Sanchez's stats\" class=\"wp-image-374163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/Diogo-Costa-Robert-Sanchez-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/Diogo-Costa-Robert-Sanchez-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/Diogo-Costa-Robert-Sanchez-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/Diogo-Costa-Robert-Sanchez-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/Diogo-Costa-Robert-Sanchez-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/06\/Diogo-Costa-Robert-Sanchez.png 1080w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"Credit: Miguel Lemos\/NurPhoto\/Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Offside via Getty Images\">Credit: Miguel Lemos\/NurPhoto\/Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Offside via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>At 22, Porto legend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/throwbacks\/new-chelsea-target-was-once-described-the-best-in-the-world-with-blueco-closing-in\/\">Vitor Baia described Costa as \u201cthe best in the world\u201d<\/a>. Since then, if anything, Costa has got better. More experienced, a leader \u2013 elements that Chelsea have been trying to add this summer.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea need a goalkeeper. They need to eradicate Sanchez\u2019s errors, and they cannot trust the lack of experience with Penders. Not signing Costa, an ideal candidate, is a mistake Chelsea cannot afford.<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/columnist\/chelsea-set-for-51m-mistake-as-stamford-bridge-insiders-share-stance-on-best-in-the-world-target\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-E7VRWQHDP6');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-E7VRWQHDP6\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"thechelseachronicle.com\/MFj4XQ\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")[0].appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','663509325503632');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'Chelsea set for \u00a351m mistake as Stamford Bridge insiders share stance on &#8216;best in the world&#8217; target',content_category:'Opinion',content_ids:[379978,\"diogo-costa\"],content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/columnist\/chelsea-set-for-51m-mistake-as-stamford-bridge-insiders-share-stance-on-best-in-the-world-target\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add as preferred source on Google Xabi Alonso and Chelsea have worked wonders in the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":574,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=573"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/573\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}