Chelsea to help Strasbourg solve transfer crisis caused by BlueCo

Tom Weber

Updated: 18 May 2024 16:51 BST
3 min read

Behdad Eghbali, Todd Boehly, Strasbourg, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Chelsea could help solve Strasbourg's goalkeeper crisis, according to French media.

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The Ligue 1 side lost their number one Matz Sels to Nottingham Forest on January Deadline Day. Strasbourg controversially decided to cash in on the veteran Belgian and outraged their supporters with no time to sign a replacement.

To the club's fans, it was further proof of the lack of a clear transfer plan since Chelsea owners BlueCo took over the club. Already in the summer, Strasbourg had radically culled their squad of experienced players, leaving them with the second-youngest roster in the French top flight.

The Alsatians have endured a difficult season, though they have comfortably managed to stay up. Nevertheless, disillusion with BlueCo is rife, not just in the fanbase. On Friday, Strasbourg defender Lucas Perrin blasted the club's owners in an explosive interview.

Selling Sels was a decision that did not go down well and Strasbourg's goalkeeper situation will need to be sorted out this summer.

© IMAGO - Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali

Strasbourg need reinforcements

22-year-old Alaa Bellaarouch was thrust into the limelight following Sels' exit and the Moroccan has struggled to provide a reliable, calming presence between the sticks. The young goalkeeper has been error-prone and, according to L'Equipe, Strasbourg are looking for an upgrade.

Such an upgrade, the French outlet claims, could be found at Chelsea. Among the names mentioned as potential options is Gabriel Slonina, who himself is only 20. The American was signed from the Chicago Fire in late 2022 and has spent the season on loan at Eupen in Belgium.

Regarded as one of the biggest goalkeeping prospects in the US men's national team pool, Slonina is highly rated but adding yet another young Chelsea loanee to Strasbourg's squad is bound to lead to more outrage.

This term, Angelo Gabriel and Andrey Santos have been loaned from Chelsea to the Alsatians. Santos' stay could be extended by a season, while Pape Diong, a 17-year-old initially supposed to sign for Chelsea, looks to be on his way to Strasbourg.