Jamie Carragher has slammed Chelsea’s decision not to replace Robert Sanchez in the transfer window and believes Enzo Maresca has been let down by the club’s board.
The Spain international joined the Blues from Brighton two years ago but has struggled to convince he is worthy of being regarded as the club’s long-term No.1.
Sanchez has found himself relegated under both Maresca and his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino but started the new season as first choice following an encouraging World Club Cup campaign.
Question marks were raised about the 27-year-old’s ability again last weekend when he was sent off after just four minutes against Manchester United following a rush of blood to the head.
Defeat at Old Trafford represented another untimely setback for Maresca after disappointing results against the Brentford and Bayern Munich, but Carragher fears Chelsea’s head coach has been undermined by an unwillingness to recruit a top class goalkeeper.
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He wrote in his Daily Telegraph column: ‘The glaring flaws last season were in goal and at centre-half. Despite 12 new arrivals over the summer, those areas remain the Achilles’ heel.
‘Chelsea were linked with AC Milan’s French keeper Mike Maignan, but the message was they were not prepared to pay more than £12m. Why not?
‘Manchester City showed what ambitious clubs do when an obvious issue needs sorting out, signing Gianluigi Donnarumma.
‘Why were Chelsea not part of the conversation for the PSG keeper? He could have been a transformative signing for them.’
Chelsea’s recruitment has largely centered on strengthening their attacking options over the course of the last two windows but Carragher has questioned their strategy.
He added: ‘Rather than focus on positions in need of urgent attention, Chelsea appear to be obsessed with collecting wingers.
‘Jamie Gittens, youngster Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho all signed this summer. They have another winger arriving in the summer of 2026, having secured a £40m deal with Sporting Lisbon for teenager Geovany Quenda.
‘Who among this season’s options will make way for him in 12 months’ time?
‘With an imbalanced squad, there was no chance of Chelsea winning the league coming into this season, and Maresca already sounded realistic after last weekend’s defeat by Manchester United, suggesting it might be “impossible” to catch Liverpool.’