Chelsea are once again attracting a lot of attention with their new developments in the transfer market, this time regarding the loan options for goalkeeper Petrovic. According to the latest reports from journalist Nizzaar Kinsella, Chelsea have started looking for a loan home for the young goalkeeper, with Fiorentina and Strasbourg emerging as the most likely destinations.
Petrovic joined Chelsea for a £12.5 million transfer fee last year, and although he performed well in his first season, making 31 appearances and basically establishing himself as the team's No.1 goalkeeper, his position has become less secure with the addition of Joensen. Chelsea need to find a new outlet for the young goalkeeper to fully utilize his talent and avoid wasting resources.
Both Fiorentina and Strasbourg have shown strong interest in Petrovic. Fiorentina's appeal as a traditional powerhouse in Italian football cannot be overstated. Strasbourg, on the other hand, have closer ties with Chelsea, as both are owned by Burley and Clearlake Capital, which facilitates loan negotiations. Strasbourg are also looking at Petrovic as their top candidate for a season-long loan to play as their No.1 goalkeeper.
However, Petrovic himself is confused about his future development plans and is not willing to easily accept being a replacement or backup option for another team. This attitude complicated the loan negotiations. Strasbourg, while interested in signing him, realized that he might choose to stay at Chelsea to wait for a bigger opportunity.
Strasbourg have already made moves in the loan market as they have already signed midfielder Andre Santos on loan from Chelsea and are close to announcing a loan deal with Caleb Wiley. However, under FIFA rules, they can only take one more player on loan, making Petrovic a key target for them. However, they are also considering other options such as Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopez.
In the Chelsea squad, Robert Sanchez and Joensen will battle it out for the number one goalkeeper position this season, with Bettinelli supporting them. Petrovic's departure will bring new competition and variation to Chelsea's goalkeeping position.
