Currently struggling to break into the top-4 of the PL points table, Antonio Conte may not be able to keep his job at Stamford Bridge come the start of the new season but Chelsea have already started scouting for players who can add quality to their squad next season.
A number of exciting stars are linked with a move to London recently and one name that Chelsea are reportedly desperate for is RB Leipzig star Peter Gulacsi.
Gulacsi On Chelsea’s Radar
The Blues spent on Willy Caballero as a backup to Thibaut Courtois at the start of the season but there is a grave danger that they might lose both players come the end of the season. Courtois is attracting interests from France and Spain while Caballero is not a long-term option, which has pushed the club into the transfer market for a new shot-stopper.
And reports from ESPN claim that Chelsea have identified former Liverpool star Peter Gulacsi as the right man for their side. Having spent five years at Anfield, he qualifies as a homegrown player in England and if Leipzig fail to qualify for the Champions League, they will find it really hard to keep hold of the Hungarian GK for another year.
The likes of Atletico Madrid are also interested in his services but is Gulacsi the right man for Chelsea?
Gulacsi And His History
Having joined Liverpool back in 2007 for the first time, the 27-year old failed to make a single senior appearance in the league for the Reds and spent time on loan at three different English clubs before he moved on to RB Salzburg in 2013. He spent two productive years at the club and was snapped up by RB Leipzig, where he has now established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the Bundesliga at the moment.
With six clean sheets in 26 league appearances, Gulacsi has conceded just 34 goals this season and topped the GK rankings in Bundesliga earlier in the season.
He is an excellent shot stopper, with great composure on and off the ball. He is agile and aggressive, is usually pro-active, and has shown enough promise to play for the biggest clubs in Europe.
Right Man For Chelsea?
The Blues are desperate to keep Thibaut Courtois at the club beyond the summer. Wanted by the likes of Real Madrid and PSG, the Belgian shot-stoppers is right up there with the best in the game, and losing him will be a big blow for Chelsea.
He might give the Blues a financial advantage but there are very few names that can replace him in the first team at Stamford Bridge. Though Gulacsi has been impressive this season, the jury is still out on whether he is as good as the other names mentioned in this piece.
The Hungarian could be a good backup to Courtois if Caballero is to quit this summer but is just not a good enough replacement for the Belgian at Chelsea.