Chelsea have reportedly identified Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as a potential summer transfer target.
After their elimination from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage earlier this week, the Blues have been left to take stock of the amount of changes that they must undertake later in 2023.
Having spent in excess of £600m across two transfer windows and already announced losses of £121m, the club's hierarchy must heavily reduce the squad ahead of 2023-24.
Nevertheless, that is not to say that Chelsea will not make additions with a new centre forward known to be on the agenda for the West Londoners.
If reports are to be believed, bringing in a fresh face for between the sticks may also be required with the future of second-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy very much in doubt.
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Even if the Senegal international departs Stamford Bridge, Chelsea would still have Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli and Gabriel Slonina in their ranks.
However, with regular talk about eventually replacing Arrizabalaga, the Premier League outfit may look to be proactive on that front during the next window.
According to Bild, Chelsea have been left impressed by the performances of Kobel this season.
The 25-year-old produced a man-of-the-match performance when Dortmund recorded a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in February.
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An injury kept the Swiss stopper out of the reverse fixture, which Chelsea won 2-0, but Kobel has made 28 appearances in all competitions this season.
Furthermore, he represented his country on one occasion at the 2022 World Cup, helping Switzerland record a 3-2 triumph over Serbia in the group stage.
With Kobel possessing over three years left on his contract, Dortmund will be in no rush to sell their number one, yet much may depend on any offer for his services.
Dortmund paid Stuttgart a fee in the region of €15m when they signed Kobel in 2021, and he has since gone on to make 69 appearances for Der BVB.
Darren Plant
