Jamie Carragher
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea should sign Jan Oblak this summer and try to recoup what they can for Kepa Arrizabalaga. Kepa has struggled at times this season under Frank Lampard, with the Blues’ boss even dropping the 25-year-old for Willy Caballero back in February. Carragher believes that although the Atletico man won’t come cheap, the signing would be a game-changer for the Stamford Bridge club.
Jamie Carragher said “Lampard has to try and recoup what he can for Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world’s most expensive keeper who is not the required standard for a side of Chelsea’s class, Arrizabalaga’s save ratio of 53.47 per cent is the worst in the Premier League, making 55 stops from 101 shots on target this season. That is less than Claudio Bravo when he was costing Man City points during his year as Pep Guardiola’s No 1. We know how Guardiola responded. Lampard will do the same. Given how much money has already been invested in more attackers, I would be surprised if Chelsea have not already lined up Arrizabalaga’s successor. Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak is the best available and would be a game-changer. Yes, meeting his £109 million buyout clause is mega expensive, but it looks like Chelsea have the funds. Oblak is the closest you will find to a no-brainer for any coach in need of a keeper, and given Petr Cech’s involvement in Chelsea’s technical department – and remembering the impact he had when becoming one of Jose Mourinho’s first recruits in 2004 – the club can be well advised on what a ready-made No 1 can do. That is their biggest priority. Chelsea need only look at Ederson and Alisson to see the value of a world-class stopper. Ederson contributed to City increasing their points tally from 78 to 100 in 2018. Liverpool have collected 97 and 96 in successive seasons, leaping from 75 points the year before Alisson signed.”
