Andre Onana: Chelsea FINALLY get a transfer right

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 26 Apr 2023 19:31 BST
• 4 min read

Chelsea broke the world record for transfer money spent in one season in 2022-23 - and almost every new player has either failed to shine yet or has been an unmitigated disaster.

If Chelsea are to return to challenging for trophies, Todd Boehly needs to change that trend of failed transfers when he makes another big splash this summer.

The latest name to be linked to a big-money move to Chelsea is Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana.

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Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Tuesday that Chelsea will meet Inter this week to discuss a deal that would see Onana move to Stamford Bridge for cash plus Kepa Arrizabalaga in exchange.

How good is Onana?

Were Boehly to do this deal, he would finally sign a player who is certain to be a success at Chelsea.

Onana only arrived at Inter last summer on a free transfer after he saw out his contract at Ajax.

The 26-year-old has been a revelation at San Siro, displacing long-term number one Samir Handanovic from the starting XI.

The ex-Ajax man has been one of the best goalkeepers in all of Europe this season, perhaps the best of all in the Champions League so far.

He has more clean sheets than any goalkeeper in the Champions League, with a hugely impressive six shutouts from 10 games. He has 15 clean sheets in all competitions from 33 games.

The fact that Inter are in the semi-finals of the Champions League is partly thanks to Onana, who made a string of miraculous saves in the narrow 1-0 aggregate win over Porto in the last-16.

He is now due to play in the second Champions League semi-final of his career - with Inter facing AC Milan next month - having already reached the semis with Ajax back in 2019.

Onana has built up impressive experience at the top of the game despite his relatively young age for a goalkeeper. He is closing in on 300 club appearances and has been capped 34 times by Cameroon.

As well as having cat-like reflexes, Onana is a commanding presence as he dominates his area. He is a leader and organiser, a very vocal presence.

Onana, who has also been linked to Man Utd, is brilliant with his feet and reads the game fantastically, acting as a sweeper.

But most impressively of all, Onana exudes such calm. He is never flustered and as cool as a cucumber in all situations.

It is like he is sitting in his living room with his feet up, such is the relaxed nature of Onana even when the pressure is at its highest.

The confidence he gives his defence cannot be underestimated. He has been one of the signings of the season in Europe in 2022-23.

If there is one weakness in his game, he can sometimes misjudge crosses - as he did when conceding a late equaliser against Salernitana earlier this month.

But aside from that, he is a very complete goalkeeper and he would be a huge upgrade on Kepa.

Inter would potentially consider selling as they need to raise cash this summer, and feel they can replace him with Empoli’s excellent goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

As for Chelsea, Boehly would finally be getting a transfer right after a string of misses.