Chelsea scout La Liga goalkeeper duo ahead of possible 2024 transfer
Chelsea scouts were in attendance for Athletic Club’s 2-2 draw with Valencia on Sunday, 90min understands, with goalkeeper duo Giorgi Mamardashvili and Unai Simon both watched by Blues officials.
As 90min revealed in September, Chelsea remain on the hunt for a new goalkeeper despite signing both Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic during the summer, with long-term target Mamardashvili sitting towards the top of their wish list.
Officials from Stamford Bridge were in the stands to watch the 23-year-old Valencia stopper at the weekend but are also understood to have taken the chance to take notes on Athletic Club’s Simon at the same time.
Simon, 26, is Spain’s starting goalkeeper and replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga in Athletic’s net after the latter moved to Chelsea in 2018.
Signing a new goalkeeper is not Chelsea’s immediate priority and the Blues are satisfied with Sanchez as their starter, but while a January move for a new stopper is unlikely, sources have stressed to 90min it has not been formally ruled out either.
Chelsea’s scouting net has been cast far and wide as they search for a long-term goalkeeper and officials were also back in the stands watching Porto’s Diogo Costa against Barcelona earlier this month, having considered the Portugal international this summer before opting for the cheaper signing in Sanchez.
Everton’s Jordan Pickford has been tracked while Chelsea are also among the sides monitoring Aaron Ramsdale’s situation at Arsenal.
90min reported in September that Ramsdale is happy to fight for his place at the Emirates after being dropped in favour of David Raya, although sources believe his stance could soften over the coming months if he remains out of Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup for the foreseeable future.
Elsewhere, Chelsea remain keen to continue their quest to sign the game’s top young talents and have added both Lille’s Leny Yoro and Boca Juniors‘ Valentin Barco to their list of targets.