Chelsea’s hopes of signing Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel have received a significant boost, with the Bundesliga club reportedly preparing for his potential departure.
Dortmund’s disappointing season has left them languishing in 11th place in the Bundesliga, with their Champions League hopes fading. If they fail to qualify for Europe’s top competition, Bild reports that Dortmund may have to offload key players to mitigate financial losses.
Among those considered for a summer sale is Kobel, who could be available for around €50m (£42m). Also on the potential departure list are Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (£67m-£83.5m) and Karim Adeyemi (£42m).
Chelsea’s interest in Kobel is no surprise. The club’s current first-choice goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez has been underwhelming this season, making several costly errors. Filip Jorgensen recently took his place in the lineup, but Chelsea remain on the lookout for a long-term solution.
Kobel, 27, has impressed since joining Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2021, earning spots in the Bundesliga Team of the Season twice. However, he is reportedly frustrated with Dortmund’s lack of silverware and could be open to a Premier League move.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has been vocal about Chelsea’s need for upgrades in key positions, particularly in goal. Speaking on It’s Called Soccer, he said:
“I never thought Chelsea could win the league at any stage because of the goalkeeper and the centre-forward—they’re not at the level. The centre-backs are not at the level either.”
Carragher warned that failure to qualify for the Champions League would be a disaster for a club that has spent heavily in recent years.
With Kobel under contract until 2028, Chelsea would need to meet Dortmund’s valuation. However, if the German side fails to qualify for the Champions League, a move could become more likely.
Would Kobel be the upgrade Chelsea need to challenge for silverware again? The summer transfer window could provide the answer.