Oblak, Schmeichel, Butland or Navas - Who should Chelsea bring in?

Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation remains in limbo as the season nears. Thibaut Courtois is AWOL having failed to turn up to training earlier this week as he looks to force through a move to Real Madrid. The La Liga giants have been linked with a move for the Belgium number one for some time now with Courtois keen on a return to the Spanish capital having spent three years with Atletico Madrid. It leaves Chelsea in a predicament coming into the campaign. 

At the time of writing, Courtois, Willy Caballero and Rob Green are Chelsea’s three senior goalkeepers and the last thing Maurizio Sarri will want to do before his debut season at Stamford Bridge kicks off is to be without a top-quality first choice shotstopper. Even with Courtois yet to turn up to training following the World Cup, the Blues are unlikely to sanction his sale without first securing his replacement. 

Here, we run through four goalkeepers Chelsea have been linked with or could move for before Thursday’s deadline. 

1. Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) 

Reports on Monday suggested that Chelsea were prepared to trigger Jan Oblak’s €100m release clause this week as they aim to bring in a world class goalkeeper. Atletico Madrid would be reluctant to sell their number one and for good reason. At 25 years of age, Oblak is already considered one of the best in the world and his stock will only continue to soar over time. 

He kept more clean sheets (22) than any other goalkeeper in La Liga last season, while a save success rate of 85.8% was the best in Europe’s top five leagues. He may cost a pretty penny, but if Chelsea are to make a serious stab at a return to the Champions League, they’ll need to spend big to replace Courtois or run the risk of starting the season with the ineffective Caballero between the sticks. 

The Slovenian’s commanding presence in the penalty area would be a welcome boost for the Blues, though it’ll be a huge surprise to see Oblak move to the Premier League at this stage of the transfer window. A pipe dream at this point in time. 

2. Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City) 

A more realistic target comes in the form of Kasper Schmeichel. The Dane impressed at the World Cup before Denmark’s last-16 penalty shootout exit at the hands of eventual finalists Croatia. The 31-year-old gained a WhoScored.com rating of 7.51 in Russia and he’ll look to continue that fine form in the coming campaign. 

Roma had considered a move for Schmeichel following Alisson’s move to Liverpool, the Brazilian another goalkeeping target Chelsea, excuse the pun, let slip through their fingers. However, the arrival of Robin Olsen leaves Chelsea with a straight shot at Schmeichel. Leicester’s big money capture of Danny Ward from Liverpool would also ease any possible departure from the King Power Stadium, which would be a bonus for the Blues. 

That being said, even with the addition of Ward, the Foxes have no plans to cash in Schmeichel. It would take a big offer to convince Leicester to sell their Great Dane, but he’d be a cheaper alternative than Oblak, and his arrival is a more realistic possibility too. 

3. Jack Butland (Stoke City) 

A few years ago, Chelsea were considering selling Courtois in order to fund a move for Jack Butland, then at Birmingham. The Blues are again being linked with a move for the Stoke City number one, who shipped three at Leeds at the weekend. Potters boss Gary Rowett is adamant that the England international won’t be sold this summer, though that is unlikely to deter Chelsea from moving for Butland. 

At 6’5”, the 25-year-old is a commanding figure in his own penalty box and his reactive shotstopping ability - Butland made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League last season, with 142 - means he’d be a solid pickup for the Blues. His error for Pablo Hernandez’s second at the weekend shouldn’t deter potential suitors, with Butland still primed for a bright future in the game. 

Chelsea are believed to have lodged a £20m bid for Butland in a deal that could eventually rise to £30m. However, the consensus is that they have left it too late to move for Potters goalkeeper, yet if they do sign Butland between now and Thursday; he’d not only be an astute pickup, but would bolster the club’s homegrown quota too. 

4. Keylor Navas (Real Madrid) 

Real Madrid have made no secret of their desire to replace Keylor Navas as number one in the past, with Los Blancos not only linked with a move for Courtois, but David De Gea too. If Chelsea do sell the Belgian to the European champions, then the least they could do is ask for Keylor Navas in return. 

The Costa Rican may not be held in such high esteem as Courtois, with his exuberant approach to goalkeeping leaving fans gnawing at their fingernails from time to time, yet he’s a reactive shotstopper who is able to make the impossible saves. He may not have the physical standing of Oblak or Butland, but Navas is a vastly experienced goalkeeper that would be an immediate upgrade on Caballero and Green. 

If Chelsea could include Navas as part of the deal that sees Courtois go the other way, then it would ease the blow on the latter’s exit and allow the Blues to bring in a ripe and ready number one. 

5. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Club)

Reports on Tuesday suggested that Chelsea will look to pay Kepa Arrizabalaga's release clause, which currently stands at a hefty €80m. The 23-year-old was linked with a move to the Blues earlier in the year, but elected to pen a new deal with Athletic Club, boosting his release clause in the process.

It's something of a desperate situation for the Blues, but in Kepa, Chelsea will be landing a goalkeeper who is a competent performer with the ball at his feet as he is stopping opponents. Indeed, the Spaniard made more accurate long balls (368) than any other player in La Liga last season and his ability to pick out a teammate is crucial for 'Sarriball'.

In this instance, there's a very good reason why the Blues have since identified Kepa as their number one goalkeeper target, though for the mentioned fee, which Athletic are refusing to budge on, is a significant risk.

Verdict: Jack Butland 

Jan Oblak may be the dream Courtois replacement for Chelsea fans, but at €100m, the Blues are unlikely to firm up their rumoured interest in the Slovenian. If the Blues can use the money raised to fund a move for Jack Butland, then he’ll be ideal successor to the Belgian at Stamford Bridge. 

His arrival wouldn’t break the bank and would see Chelsea land a goalkeeper who’ll only improve in time with the right coaching. Stoke are reluctant to lose one of their prized assets at this stage of the window, yet Butland has previously spoken of his desire to play for a top-6 Premier League team. This summer, that dream could become a reality.