Chelsea have undertaken a significant squad overhaul under the management of Xabi Alonso. However, former Arsenal forward Alan Smith believes that one glaring weakness could thwart the Blues' ambitions for the Premier League title.
In their most recent friendly, the Blues dispatched Real Sociedad 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.
The club has splashed the cash in the transfer market, bringing in Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a record fee of £117 million. They've also bolstered their ranks with the signings of Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Valentin Barco, and Pep Chavarria. To add some experience, Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck have joined the squad.
Despite these changes, Smith insists that Chelsea have overlooked a critical issue — their goalkeeper. Robert Sanchez, signed from Brighton in 2023 for £25 million, remains the first-choice keeper.
“He should have been replaced a long time ago, and that's a glaring deficiency in their squad,” Smith told Metro.
“They've put in the effort to strengthen the defence with Maxence Lacroix and a couple of young defenders he’s brought in on the flanks. But when it comes to the goalkeeper position, if you want to challenge for the title, I don’t think Sanchez is the man for the job.”
Smith is also doubtful whether the club has the funds to sign a top goalkeeper now.
“They’ve spent an awful lot of money, haven’t they, Chelsea? I’m not sure if they have the capacity to spend more on a keeper, but Sanchez seems to be the number one for now,” he added.
Last season, Chelsea finished a disappointing tenth. Despite their outlay, Smith does not see them as title contenders, predicting that only Arsenal and Manchester City will challenge for the crown.
“I think Manchester City are the main competitors for Arsenal,” he said. “Obviously they have a new manager, so there’s a bit of uncertainty about how Enzo Maresca will gel with his players, but I still see them as the only genuine rivals.”
In Smith's view, Arsenal will retain their title, with Manchester City in second, and Manchester United in third. Liverpool is predicted to finish fourth, while Chelsea might settle for fifth, followed by Aston Villa in sixth.
The Blues will kick off their season with a match against Fulham.
