Chelsea are planning a move for Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Alvaro Valles, 26, was the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest during the January transfer window. The Tricky Trees saw a £17m bid rejected by Las Palmas for their No.1, forcing them to settle on Belgium’s Matz Sels.
The Spaniard was the best ‘sweeper-keeper’ in Europe’s top-five leagues during the 2023/24 campaign, whilst boasting incredible reflexes and shot-stopping ability after preventing the second-most goals in La Liga behind Valencia Giorgi Mamardashvili. Valles, contracted to Las Palmas until 2025, is reportedly being eyed by newly-appointed Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. He wants a ball-playing goalkeeper at the club next season to implement his possession-based, attacking style of play.
Chelsea confirm Enzo Maresca’s appointment as new manager
Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new head coach on a five-year contract, tying him to Stamford Bridge until 2029 with the club holding an option to extend by a further year.
The Italian, 44, has left Leicester City after just one season in charge, during which he masterminded the Foxes to the Championship title with 97 points and automatic promotion at the first time of asking. He was previously part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff at Manchester City that won a treble in the 2022/23 season. Maresca has joined the Blues with six of his Leicester City backroom staff, including his assistant and former Chelsea shot-stopper Willy Caballero.
Chelsea have paid Leicester a compensation package of around £10m to hire the 44-year-old as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement.
Las Palmas shot-stopper Alvaro Valles on Chelsea’s radar
Maresca was the undisputed choice in a meticulous process led by sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. The ex-Leicester boss has been appointed because he’s a young, talented and progressive coach who wants to play possession-based football and would fit well into their recruitment model hierarchy.
The Italian manager wants to bring in a new goalkeeper upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge. He has set his sights on Las Palmas’ Alvaro Valles to implement an attractive, possession-based style of play from the back. The Spaniard enjoyed a superb season in La Liga and has been courted by the likes of Arsenal, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Real Betis.
However, the arrival of a new goalkeeper at Chelsea would likely need an exit. Robert Sanchez appears likeliest to depart following Djordje Petrovic’s strong finish to his maiden Premier League campaign. Kepa Arrizabalaga, who spent the season on loan at Real Madrid, will be sold this summer.
If sporting directors Stewart and Winstanley agree Valles fits the profile between the sticks, Chelsea must bid to secure his signature as quickly as possible.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
