Xabi Alonso's first game in charge of Chelsea was nothing short of thrilling, with the Blues producing an outstanding attacking display to beat Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage. Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and João Pedro looked simply unstoppable as a trio, giving Chelsea supporters plenty of reasons to be excited about the season ahead.
However, Chelsea's defensive performance was a major concern, particularly Robert Sanchez. The goalkeeper gifted Fulham their first goal and arguably should have done better with their second. Unfortunately for Chelsea, this is not an isolated incident.
Sanchez's costly errors have become a recurring problem over the past few years, similar to the frustration Manchester United experienced with André Onana. His unforgivable mistakes have directly contributed to Chelsea dropping points and, on occasions, losing games they should have won.
Simply put, Sanchez does not look like a goalkeeper capable of playing at the highest level for a club with Chelsea's ambitions. If the Blues want to protect what could be a hugely promising season under Alonso, signing a goalkeeper before the transfer window closes should be a priority.
Here are our top five potential Robert Sanchez replacements Chelsea could target.
5. Caoimhin Kelleher – Brentford
Caoimhin Kelleher has already demonstrated that he can operate at the highest level, and his performances since joining Brentford have only strengthened that reputation.
The Irish goalkeeper spent years at Liverpool competing with Alisson and produced several impressive performances whenever he was given opportunities. His ability to perform under pressure at a major Premier League club means there is relatively little uncertainty about whether he can handle the demands of Chelsea.
Kelleher has also been excellent since moving to Brentford, with his form reportedly leaving some Liverpool supporters disappointed that the club allowed him to leave while Alisson enters the latter stages of his career.
At just 27, Kelleher still has plenty of years ahead of him and could represent a relatively safe option for Chelsea. He would not necessarily have the enormous upside of some younger alternatives, but his Premier League experience makes him an appealing replacement for Sanchez.
4. Bart Verbruggen – Brighton
Bart Verbruggen is one of the most exciting goalkeepers in the Premier League and could be a fascinating long-term option for Chelsea.
The Brighton goalkeeper has already shown impressive composure and technical ability despite his age. His comfort with the ball at his feet would also make him particularly attractive to Alonso, whose teams typically demand goalkeepers capable of contributing to the build-up.
Chelsea also have an excellent relationship with Brighton when it comes to transfers, having completed deals involving players such as Moisés Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sánchez himself in recent years.
Verbruggen's contract runs until 2028, meaning Brighton would have little reason to sell cheaply. However, a sufficiently large offer could potentially tempt the Seagulls into considering a deal.
3. Unai Simón – Athletic Bilbao
Spain's World-cup Winning Goalkeeper Unai Simón is another Exciting Goalkeeper option for Xabi Alonso's side.
The Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper is already 29, meaning he is entering his prime years rather than being a long-term developmental project. His experience at the highest level, including his importance to Spain's international success, makes him one of the safest options on this list.
Simón is also comfortable playing from the back, making him an excellent stylistic fit for Alonso's football. His distribution and composure would allow Chelsea to build attacks from deep rather than constantly relying on their defenders to compensate for weaknesses in goal.
The major obstacle would be convincing Athletic Bilbao to sell. However, if Chelsea were willing to put a huge bid on the table, Simón could become a realistic option.
2. Emiliano Martínez – Aston Villa
In our opinion, Emiliano Martínez could be the easiest, cheapest and potentially best short-term solution for Chelsea.
If the Blues do not want to spend huge money on a goalkeeper but still want an immediate upgrade, Martínez makes enormous sense. He has repeatedly demonstrated his quality in the Premier League and at international level, while his mentality and big-game experience would give Chelsea something Sanchez has struggled to provide consistently.
Martínez has reportedly wanted to leave Aston Villa for some time, with a potential Juventus move previously failing to materialise. Villa have also already signed his potential replacement in Suzuki, which could indicate that the Argentine remains likely to depart.
Chelsea and Villa also have an increasingly strong working relationship, as demonstrated by recent deals involving Morgan Rogers and Alejandro Garnacho. Furthermore, Villa's reported interest in Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson could make negotiations even more interesting.
A deal involving Martínez and potentially Jackson could therefore be a scenario worth watching before deadline day.
1. Diogo Costa – Porto
Our top choice is Diogo Costa, although Chelsea would almost certainly have to spend heavily to make this happen.
Costa has been regarded as one of the world's best young goalkeepers for several years and has consistently delivered outstanding performances for both Porto and Portugal. His international displays have demonstrated that he can handle enormous pressure, while his technical quality makes him perfectly suited to modern football.
At just 26, Costa is also exceptionally young for a goalkeeper. If he reaches his enormous potential, Chelsea could potentially have their number one for close to a decade.
He possesses the shot-stopping ability, distribution, composure and modern goalkeeping qualities required at the highest level. For us, he is the best modern goalkeeper potentially available on the market and the player with the highest long-term ceiling among Chelsea's realistic options.
Chelsea's attacking talent under Alonso could make this an extremely exciting season. But if Sanchez continues making costly mistakes, those attacking strengths could ultimately be wasted.
For Chelsea, replacing Sanchez is no longer simply about finding competition. It could be the difference between having a promising season and having a genuinely successful one.
