Chelsea plan 2024 move after scouting two La Liga ‘keepers

Chelsea’s mini-revival in recent weeks came to an abrupt end on Saturday as they were beaten 2-0 by West London rivals Brentford at Stamford Bridge. 

After a slow start to the new season, Mauricio Pochettino’s side had beaten both Fulham and Burnley in the past month, and were unfortunate not to triumph over Arsenal last week.

Their unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday, though, as goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo earned the Bees a historic victory.

The result leaves the Blues 11th in the Premier League table, with Thomas Frank’s side leapfrogging them into tenth spot.

While Chelsea lost over the weekend, it appears that the club’s scouts were busy watching potential targets in action in Spain.

As reported by 90min, the Premier League side had scouts in attendance at the Valencia v Athletic Bilbao game over the weekend, watching both starting goalkeepers.

The two sides played out a 2-2 draw on Sunday, and the report claims that Valencia ‘keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is one of the club’s top targets as they continue searching for goalkeeping reinforcements.

Unai Simon is one of a number of goalkeepers being monitored by Chelsea

Over the summer both Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga left Stamford Bridge, while Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic arrived from Brighton and Hove Albion and New England Revolution respectively.

Despite the new arrivals, the report claims that Chelsea are still on the hunt for another new ‘keeper next year, with several players currently being monitored.

As well as Mamardashvili and Simon, the West London outfit are also said to be keeping tabs on Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale and Porto star Diogo Costa.

Mamardashvili, 23, joined Valencia on loan from Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi in the summer of 2021, before making his switch permanent six months later.

In total he has made 74 appearances for the Spanish side across all competitions, keeping 21 clean sheets.

Simon, meanwhile, is a product of Bilbao’s youth academy and has made 170 senior appearances for his boyhood club, keeping 53 clean sheets.