Chelsea 'start talks' with Arsenal target as Enzo Maresca eyes eighth summer signing

Chelsea have reportedly started talks with Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen as the Blues attempt to lure the Denmark under-21s international to Stamford Bridge. Jorgensen has been attracting attention from the Premier League, with Arsenal having said to be in the mix to sign him.

Chelsea struggled defensively last season as they conceded a whopping 63 Premier League goals.

And new boss Enzo Maresca appears to be on the hunt for a new shot-stopper after taking over from Mauricio Pochettino.

Maresca currently has Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic battling it out for the No. 1 jersey at Stamford Bridge, with 13-time capped Spain international Kepa Arrizabalaga expected to leave this summer after spending last season on loan with Real Madrid.

And, according to Fabrizio Romano, the west London giants have made an initial approach for Jorgensen, who has spent the last seven years at Villarreal after joining their academy from Mallorca.

Talks with Jorgensen are at an early stage, with the 22-year-old said to be keen on a move to the Premier League giants.

Jorgensen made his Villarreal debut as a substitute in a 7-1 Spanish Cup victory over Sanluqueno in December 2021 when he was still only 19 years old.

He has gone on to make 44 appearances for the side and was their first-choice goalkeeper in La Liga last season, conceding 63 goals in 36 matches as his team finished eighth in the table.

He was used as a back-up keeper in the Europa League, however, with former Liverpool star Pepe Reina getting the nod between the sticks.

Chelsea have already been busy in the transfer market this summer, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Omari Kellyman, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo arriving in west London. And the Blues have also agreed a deal for teenage forward Estevao Willian, with the Palmeiras ace set to arrive in England next year.

Maresca is said to be monitoring a number of goalkeepers as he aims to secure the services of a new shot-stopper, with the Italian also being linked with Leicester star Mads Hermansen after managing him at the King Power Stadium.

But he will reportedly not pursue Giorgi Mamardashvili, who starred for Georgia at Euro 2024 and helped his country reach the last-16 of the tournament, despite being tipped to make a move for the Valencia star.

Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign by hosting Manchester City on Sunday, August 18. And they will be hoping to finally kick-on and compete for silverware more than two years after Todd Boehly bought the club from Roman Abramovich.