Spanish outlet AS have confirmed Chelsea interest in Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak. The report suggests that Chelsea are willing to go all out to bring the Slovenian to Stamford Bridge.
Jan Oblak came through NK Olimpija Ljubljana’s youth ranks and made a name for himself with Benfica in Portugal. His performances in Portugal attracted eyeballs, and he soon signed for Atletico Madrid after the 2013/14 season.
Since that move, there has been no looking back for the stopper, as he has been the club’s first-choice keeper. In the process, Oblak has not just established himself as the club’s best but has gone on to become a footballing elite across Europe.
The Slovenian international has also made 28 appearances for his national side and has immense experience at the highest level. Jan Oblak has come to Atletico’s rescue on a countless number of occasions, making crucial match-winning saves.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have had problems at the back, as they have the worst defensive record among the top ten sides in the Premier League table. Chelsea need a safer pair of gloves and striking a deal for Jan Oblak certainly seems like a good option for the Blues.
One area that needs to be addressed at the earliest is the goalkeeping department. As stated, the club has conceded a lot of goals. Kepa Arrizabalaga has been at fault for quite a few goals this season, and Willy Caballero is definitely only a backup.
Jan Oblak would certainly be a huge boost for Chelsea given his performances. The Slovenian star has been in sensational form this season and will look to bag the La Liga Zamora trophy, something that the player has been winning for four seasons now.
Chelsea must look to sign the world-class shot-stopper if they are to improve their defensive record and challenge for the title. Jan Oblak is the right man and his records in La Liga vouch for that. If Oblak is able to continue the same form, the player would be a great buy for Chelsea as he is undoubtedly one of the best in the business. It’s a no-brainer of a decision for the Blues if they are to become title contenders.
A title-challenging side needs to have a miserly defensive record and Chelsea’s tally this season is anything but that. Though this cannot be entirely blamed on Kepa, replacing him is a must as he isn’t inspiring confidence at the back.
For example, although Manchester United over the years haven’t had a great backline, David De Gea single-handedly made it difficult for the opposition to breach the Red Devils.
Chelsea need someone to have this kind of impact at the back and hence, they must replace Kepa with the world-class Jan Oblak this summer.