Chelsea make opening bid for ideal Enzo Maresca transfer after ‘talks’ over £16.8m deal

Chelsea have reportedly made an opening bid for Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen with talks having already been held with the player’s representatives.

It has been a busy summer window so far for the Blues as Enzo Maresca shapes his squad ahead of the new 2024/25 Premier League season. The head coach is currently out in America with his players on the pre-season tour.

But that has not stopped work on transfers continuing. Reports emerged last week of Chelsea being keen on signing a new goalkeeper to compete with Robert Sanchez, and since then several names have been mentioned, including Jorgensen.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has now reported that Chelsea have made their first official move for the Denmark U21 international. It is claimed that the Blues have made a first bid of €20 million (£16.8m) to Villarreal.

Jorgensen is said to be keen on the move. It is unknown how much Villarreal value the player, but he did put pen to paper on a new contract with the club earlier this year.

The 22-year-old made a total of 37 appearances for the Spanish club last season, keeping six clean sheets. He is a regular for Denmark’s U21 team, but represented Sweden at youth level.

READ MORE: What Enzo Maresca told journalists after first Chelsea press conference ahead of Wrexham clash

READ MORE: Every word Enzo Maresca said on Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea injuries, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James

Goalkeeper is a key position in Maresca’s system that he will introduce at Chelsea, meaning that they have to be comfortable receiving the ball to feet and playing the ball out under pressure.

It’s not the first time he’s turned to the Danish youth set-up for the position. Just last summer, Maresca identified Mads Hermansen as a key target for Leicester. The Dane completed a move from Brondby and was a key cog in the Foxes’ success in the Championship.

Hermansen’s name has been mentioned with Chelsea this summer, but Leicester will demand a big fee for the goalkeeper. The club are unlikely to want to lose another big player following their promotion after the sale of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.