Chelsea plot £50 million move for impressive Premier League newcomer: report

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The Blues are said to be eyeing a summer raid of one of their Premier League rivals

Liam Rosenior coach of Chelsea FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between SSC Napoli and Chelsea FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 28, 2026 in Naples, Italy.
The Red Devils star has been a regular under Michael Carrick (Image credit: Ivan Romano/Getty Images)

The goalkeeping position at Chelsea is one - of many - that has been the source of great debate in recent seasons.

Robert Sanchez is the current custodian of the gloves at Stamford Bridge and has made the role his own this season, missing just one Premier League match through injury this term, as the former Brighton stopper looks to put the club's recent upheaval at the position to bed.

Chelsea linked with Sunderland ‘keeper

Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez gestures to give instructions to his defenders during the Premier League match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in London, England on 16 March, 2025.

Robert Sanchez joined Chelsea in 2023 (Image credit: Alamy)

Despite Sanchez enjoying a much-improved campaign this season, the club are reportedly set to test the resolve of one of their Premier League rivals in the summer.

According to transfer specialist Alan Nixon, the Blues are interested in Sunderland stopper Robin Roefs, who is enjoying an excellent first season in the Premier League.

Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs

Robin Roefs joined the Black Cats in the summer (Image credit: Getty Images)

The newly-promoted Black Cats landed Roefs for a reported £11.5million from NEC Nijmegen in the summer, with the Dutchman an ever-present in the Premier League this term.

His early performances saw him receive his first call-up to the Netherlands senior squad in August and he will be hoping to win a place in Ronald Koeman’s World Cup squad this summer.

This has seen him emerge on Chelsea’s radar, with Nixon’s report claiming that the Blues are in the market for a new number one in the summer and Roefs ticks this box.

Sunderland are said to be open to a sale if their £50 million valuation is met, while the player himself could be open to the move if Liam Rosenior’s side secure Champions League football this season.

The Blues currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, ahead of Manchester United and Liverpool on goal difference.

Filip Jorgensen of Villarreal CF looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Girona FC and Villarreal CF at Montilivi Stadium on May 14, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Chelsea target

Filip Jorgensen is also still on the Chelsea books (Image credit: Getty Images)

Roefs signed a five-year contract with Sunderland in the summer, which hands them the advantage in any future negotiations and if the 23-year-old does make the Dutch World Cup squad in the summer, this could also see his value rise.

According to Transfermarkt, Roefs’ current value sits at €18 million and has spiked significantly over the past six months, so Chelsea would have to pay a significant fee to land him, especially given his age and contract situation.

In FourFourTwo’s view, that makes a move somewhat unlikely, especially given that Sanchez has stabilised the goalkeeper position at Stamford Bridge. But one thing Chelsea’s transfer activity has taught us in recent years is to expect the unexpected…

Joe Mewis
Joe Mewis

For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.

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