‘Really special’ goalkeeper confirms he could have moved to Chelsea in the January transfer window

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The goalkeeper position has been a huge talking point at Chelsea this season, especially in recent weeks.

Robert Sanchez started the campaign as Chelsea‘s No.1, but after several high-profile mistakes, the 27-year-old was dropped by Enzo Maresca.

He returned for the Blues’ 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, but that was an FA Cup game.

Gianfranco Zola backed the decision to drop Sanchez, who could have been replaced by another shot-stopper in January by the sounds of things.

• READ MORE: How Chelsea loanee Mike Penders is proving his worth at Genk – Enzo Maresca must take note

Mike Penders could have moved to Chelsea last month

Chelsea agreed a deal with Genk last year to sign Mike Penders, who is spending the rest of the season with the Belgian side.

Penders’ move officially goes through this summer, but the 19-year-old has revealed that discussions took place about bringing his transfer forward last month.

In an interview with De Morgen, Penders said: “It was discussed with Chelsea that they could already bring me to London this winter if I didn’t play a certain percentage of matches for new year.

“It was always my goal to stay and play. I want to reach as much as possible with Genk.”

Had Penders linked up with Maresca’s squad in January, he also would have had to compete with Filip Jorgensen for a spot in the team.

Jorgensen did not do too badly against West Ham, the game he came in for following Sanchez’s howler away at Manchester City.

Mike Penders viewed as ‘really special’ goalkeeper

With Sanchez making several costly errors this season and the jury still being out on Jorgensen, Maresca clearly has a goalkeeper dilemma.

However, going forward, Penders could perhaps be the answer. Chelsea received some very good feedback after scouting the Belgian youngster.

When transfer expert Fabrizio Romano explained why Chelsea decided to sign Penders, he said: “The feedback they had on this goalkeeper was [he’s] something really, really special. So they consider him the new Thibaut Courtois in Belgium. Chelsea had a fantastic, fantastic report on him every single time their people were watching and following the player.”

Penders is still only 19, though, and has not played in the Premier League before. It may be too soon for him to become the Blues’ No.1.

Ultimately, leaving him at Genk for the rest of the season made sense, while Chelsea may need to loan him out a couple of times before he is ready to become Maresca’s first-choice goalkeeper. For now, the Italian will be relying on Sanchez and Jorgensen.