Chelsea reportedly have an informal agreement with Djordje Petrovic which states that he can leave for a set price this summer. Petrovic requested to be left out of Enzo Maresca‘s Club World Cup squad so that he can focus on resolving his future, with clubs in the Premier League and elsewhere in Europe expressing an interest.
Stamford Bridge is not a particularly cosy environment for any goalkeeper at present. Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen chopped and changed as the No. 1 last season, and young prodigy Mike Penders is expected to enter the fray at some stage. Add onto that the fact Chelsea pursued AC Milan stopper Mike Maignan in the first phase of the window, and it seems as though Maresca is still undecided about who will start 2025/26 between the sticks.
Petrovic is another name in the mix. The 25-year-old played 31 games for the Blues in the season before last. He was shipped out to partner club Strasbourg on loan last term, but his reputation was done no harm as he established himself as a Ligue 1 regular.
Having done that, it is understood that Petrovic is unwilling to accept another rotation role. The Athletic claim that he is ‘exploring his options’ after requesting not to travel to the USA for the Club World Cup, which Chelsea kicked off with a 2-0 win over LAFC on Monday.
Despite his uncertain standing in Maresca’s pecking order, it could still take £25million for a suitor to sign him this summer.
Petrovic’s representatives and Chelsea chiefs have reached a ‘gentleman’s agreement‘ stating that he will be allowed to leave if an interested club hits the £25m benchmark.
Chelsea agreed a £14m package to sign Petrovic from New England Revolution in 2023, and his stock has only been enhanced in the two years since. Even before Petrovic landed at Stamford Bridge, former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel touted him as one to watch.
“I think Djordje Petrovic should be on the radar of Premier League clubs,” the American told OLBG. “He could start right now for pretty much any team in Europe, although he has a learning curve of course.
“From what I have seen of him, there has been no better goalkeeper in MLS for a long time. I think Petrovic is good enough to start for Man Utd and Chelsea. People are talking about Man Utd’s goalkeeper situation a lot, but I’m not sure they have the budget right now for the keepers being mentioned in the papers.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk