Chelsea are reportedly close to Villarreal goalkeeper Filippo · Jorgensen in another milestone in their plan to build young and developing talent.
Jorgensen turned 22 in April and the 2023/24 season was his first season as Villarreal's number one, helping Spain finish eighth in La Liga. A "preliminary investigation" has been carried out and the Denmark Under-21 international is considered a possible target for a long-term strengthening of the goalkeeping sector, writes The Sport. Jorgensen is considered to be a particular fit for Enzo·Maresca's system due to his ability to keep the ball at his feet.
Just last month, Jorgensen signed a new five-year contract with Villarreal. His deal reportedly included a €40 million (£33.6 million) exclusion clause.
Last summer, Chelsea spent £40 million to recruit Robert · Sanchez and Djordje · Petrovic, bid farewell to Edouard · Mendy and loaned Kepa Arrizabalaga · Arrizabalaga. However, the Blues still lack a solid defence and Kepa is not expected to stay.
It is believed that Sanchez is already ahead of Petrovic in the rankings after Maresca's arrival, and the latter could be transferred if a new face joins.
He has been linked with Valencia's George · Mamardashvili, who was on the radar even ahead of the impressive Euro 2024 campaign, while Burnley's James · Trafford was also featured earlier this summer.
Born in Sweden, Jorgensen spent much of his early youth career in Malmö, but from the age of 12 he spent time in Spain, briefly returning to Malmö but moving permanently to the Eastern Mediterranean when he joined Mallorca's youth team in 2016. A year later, he moved to Villarreal.
Over the past two seasons, Chelsea have struggled to target young players. There are very few people over the age of 25 in the first team, and Omari · Kellyman, Mark · Quau and Caleb · Wiley, who arrived in the summer, are all teenagers. Similarly, Renato · Vega is only 20 years old.