John Obi Mikel has insisted that Chelsea need to improve in one critical area to have any hopes of securing silverware this season.
After claiming European silverware and securing a Champions League place in his first season at the helm at Stamford Bridge Enzo Maresca has wasted little time in looking to strengthen his squad this summer.
New arrivals, including the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens will provide the club with yet more attacking options heading into the coming campaign.
However, according Mikel, who won two Premier League titles during his 11-year spell in west London, the Blues will never return to the pinnacle of football without bringing in a world class goalkeeper.
Both Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen failed to instill confidence between the sticks in separate spells last season, and the Blues are reportedly on the hunt for a new No 1 this summer.
‘A lot of the Chelsea fans can agree that we need another top goalkeeper because Sanchez is not doing it,’ Mikel told talkSPORT.
‘The goalkeeper situation needs to be sorted out. We can’t go into the new season with Sanchez, I’m sorry.
‘I’m sure that 99 per cent of the Chelsea fans will agree with me that Sanchez is not the goalkeeper that will win us trophies. Definitely not.’
Maresca has stuck with Sanchez between the sticks throughout the Club World Cup in the USA as his side prepare to take on PSG in the final of the revamped tournament.
Mikel however, remains unconvinced.
He continued: ‘So far, so good in this tournament. He’s made mistakes but they haven’t led to a goal yet and we’ve been lucky, we’ve been scoring goals, defending well. He’s not really been under pressure so much.
‘But going into a season where we have the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and all of this, we need a top, top goalkeeper.’
‘You’ve seen the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal – they have top, top goalkeepers. So, that area of the pitch needs to be sorted out and I’m sure the owners know that.’
Chelsea have already welcomed a new shot-stopper to their ranks this summer, with Mike Penders joining from Genk in a deal reportedly worth £17million.
However, the 19-year-old Belgian youth international is expected to be sent out on loan next season rather than battling for the No 1 as he continues his development.
The Blues have also been repeatedly linked with a move for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan and PSG star Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Donnarumma’s deal with Les Parisiens expires in the summer of 2026, but he has made it clear that he wants to stay in the French capital.
‘My priority is to stay at PSG and sign a new deal,’ he said last month. ‘I don’t think there will be any problems in the negotiations.’
