Serbian shot-stopper Djordje Petrovic is poised to stay in the Premier League, with a move to Sunderland on the cards that could see Chelsea pocket a tidy £21.5million.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper impressed during his loan spell at Chelsea’s affiliate club, Strasbourg, in France last year and is eager for regular first-team action rather than returning to Stamford Bridge, especially as Chelsea are rumoured to be eyeing several other goalkeepers this summer.
Petrovic was notably absent from the Blues’ Club World Cup squad, allowing him to explore transfer options ahead of the new season. It appears that Sunderland could be his next destination, with the club keen to secure the services of the former New England Revolution star.
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As per The Telegraph, Sunderland are nearing a £21.5million deal to bring Petrovic onboard following their successful promotion through the Championship play-offs in May, reports the Mirror. If they manage to finalise the deal with Chelsea, Petrovic would become the latest high-profile signing for the Black Cats, who are not shying away from spending big in their bid to ensure Premier League survival next season.
They’re also reportedly close to sealing a £17.3million deal for Saint-Gilloise midfielder Noah Sadicki, who underwent a medical on Wednesday. They’ve already secured a permanent deal for loanee Enzo Le Fee and broke their club-record fee to sign Habib Diarra.
At the Stadium of Light, Petrovic will vie with Anthony Patterson for the coveted No. 1 spot. Robert Sanchez initially joined Chelsea two years ago and made 31 appearances for the first team under Mauricio Pochettino in his debut season at Stamford Bridge. However, since then, Sanchez has been replaced as the Blues’ top choice keeper by Enzo Maresca, with Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders also part of the squad.
The Blues had attempted to secure the services of Mike Maignan from AC Milan ahead of the Club World Cup, but negotiations with the Italian club over a potential move for the Frenchman fell through. It’s yet to be determined whether they will reignite their interest in Maignan or set their sights on another goalkeeper before the commencement of the new season. However, recent reports suggest that Maresca is satisfied with his current goalkeeping line-up.
