Chelsea’s goalkeeping troubles are back in the spotlight, with club legend John Mikel Obi warning that the Blues missed a golden chance to fix the issue during the last transfer window, Footynaija.com reports.
The Blues have struggled with errors from Robert Sánchez and Filip Jørgensen, raising questions about whether they have the quality needed between the posts to compete with the very best.
Fans have watched costly mistakes in big matches, and even manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that the position is a “delicate” one for Chelsea this season.
John Mikel Obi, who won two Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge, says the solution was right there in the market.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, he said: “I have said it so many times. We should have brought in a top goalkeeper during the transfer window.”
The former Super Eagles captain pointed to Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has already made an instant impact at Manchester City with big saves in games like the derby against Manchester United.
“We see what Donnarumma is doing now at Manchester City; he was the goalkeeper that was out there. I know there has been a lot of talk about the wage structure, but you can find a way around that,” he added.
Mikel stressed that at 26, Donnarumma is entering his prime years and could have been the long-term answer for Chelsea.
“He’s a top goalkeeper, 26 years of age. You could have found a way to make him fit into the wage structure. It’s going to be incredibly hard for us to win the Premier League with the goalkeeper that we have right now,” he said.