Chelsea are now seriously keen on signing a “sensational” player, who was recently on the verge of signing for Sunderland, according to reports.
Blues eyeing new signings amid Club World Cup campaign
The Blues have been faring well in the new-look Club World Cup, progressing out the group before most recently dispatching of Benfica 4-1 in the round of 16, setting up a very winnable quarter-final clash against Palmeiras.
However, manager Enzo Maresca was less than impressed by the two-hour break which interrupted play, saying: “I think it’s a joke to be honest, it’s not football. It’s not for us.
“You cannot be inside. I struggle to understand. I can understand that for security reasons, you suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably [this] is not the right place to do this competition.”
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Enzo Maresca won’t be signing him.
Despite being out in the USA for the Club World Cup, the west Londoners remain active in the transfer market, with widespread reports suggesting deals for Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro are edging closer to completion.
Having already signed Liam Delap, it is clear Maresca is very keen to bolster his attacking options this summer, but the manager is also looking to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, according to a report from Caught Offside.
The report states that Chelsea now hold a serious interest in OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, who is attracting plenty of interest from the Premier League, with it being revealed he was on the verge of signing for Sunderland just days ago.
Manchester United, Leeds United and Aston Villa are also in the race for Bulka, who is set to be available for the affordable price of just €20m – €25m (£17m – £21m), so there could be fierce competition for his signature.
The Blues’ interest comes amid doubts over Robert Sanchez, with the Spaniard failing to convince Maresca he should be the first-choice option between the sticks moving forward.
“Sensational” Bulka could be solution to Chelsea’s problems
Maresca clearly wasn’t impressed by both Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen at times last season, with the goalkeepers being used interchangeably, and there are signs the Nice goalkeeper could be the answer to the manager’s problem.
Once lauded as “absolutely sensational” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Pole caught the eye in Ligue 1 on a number of occasions, being voted as Player of the Month after impressing in September 2023.
More recently, the 25-year-old proved himself against European champions Paris-Saint Germain, making nine saves from inside the box to keep the Ligue 1 title-winners at bay and help his side secure a 3-1 victory.
Bulka could be a bargain signing for Chelsea at just £17m – £21m, and they should move swiftly to ensure they win the race for his signature.
