Chelsea have reportedly firmed up their interest in Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen by making an opening bid for the 22-year-old.
While new Blues boss Enzo Maresca is hardly short of goalkeeping options at the minute, the West London giants are still without an established number one heading into the new season.
Robert Sanchez was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion to fill the Edouard Mendy void last season, but following his Christmas-time injury, Djordje Petrovic stepped up to the plate.
The Serbia international is not thought to have convinced Maresca that he is number one quality just yet, though, while Kepa Arrizabalaga will likely be sold before the summer transfer deadline.
Marcus Bettinelli, Gabriel Slonina and Lucas Bergstrom are also in the ranks, but the former is a third-choice stopper, while the latter two are not quite ready for the step-up to Premier League football.
© Reuters
Chelsea 'offer £16.8m' for Jorgensen
However, 22-year-old Jorgensen has already gleaned domestic and continental experience with Villarreal, and it was reported earlier this week that Chelsea had entered talks to bring him to the Premier League.
Following that initial enquiry, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that Chelsea have now come forward with a first offer of €20m (£16.8m) for the Sweden-born goalkeeper.
Jorgensen is believed to be keen on the move to Stamford Bridge, where he would be expected to become Maresca's new number one straight away, and talks have already been held on the player's side.
It remains to be seen whether such a bid is enough to satisfy Villarreal's demands, as the Yellow Submarine are under no pressure whatsoever to sell the Denmark youth international.
Just last month, Villarreal tied Jorgensen down to a new contract until the end of the 2028-29 campaign, and Chelsea are thought to be keeping tabs on Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin as a possible alternative.
Who is Chelsea-linked Jorgensen?
© Reuters
Born in Sweden, Jorgensen represented the Malmo academy before making a name for himself in Spain, moving to the Iberian Peninsula in 2014 to sign for Penya Arrabal.
A brief stint with Mallorca followed for Jorgensen, who signed up to Villarreal's academy at the age of 13 in 2015, and he has since progressed up the Yellow Submarine's ranks.
The 22-year-old made his senior debut for Villarreal in a Copa del Rey match in December 2021, prior to which he was a part of the Yellow Submarine squad that won the 2020-21 Europa League, receiving a winners' medal despite not playing a single minute.
Jorgensen's breakthrough La Liga campaign came last season, where he appeared in 36 top-flight matches and kept six clean sheets, and the 6ft 3in goalkeeper has won 11 caps for Denmark's Under-21 side.
Ben Knapton
