Big-spending Chelsea have confirmed that teenage midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka has undergone surgery on a serious knee injury sustained during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham
Chelsea are set to sign Djordje Petrovic
Chelsea are poised to make New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic their 10th signing of the summer transfer window after agreeing a £14million deal.
The Blues have swooped for the highly-rated Serbian, 23, after allowing Kepa Arrizabalaga to join Real Madrid on a season-long loan. Chelsea’s move, which takes their lavish spending since June 2022 under co-controlling owner Todd Boehly to nearly £1billion, follows more bad news on the injury front, with midfield starlet Carney Chukwuemeka forced to undergo surgery this week.
19-year-old Chukwuemeka was withdrawn in the second half of Sunday’s dismal 3-1 defeat away to West Ham, having scored Chelsea’s equaliser to notch his first goal for the club. The Blues have confirmed that he’s now recovering from surgery, following team-mates Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku - signed for £52m this summer - in picking up serious knee injuries over the past few months.
Fofana is expected to be sidelined until March, while Nkunku’s return is more likely to be as soon as November. Armando Broja is also still recovering after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during a friendly match last year, with newly-appointed captain Reece James recently joining him in the treatment room alongside defender Trevoh Chalobah and backup goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.
Fortunately for new manager Mauricio Pochettino, he’ll welcome a new goalkeeper before deadline day in Petrovic. The Serbia international will cost an initial £12.5m, with up to £1.5m due in performance-related add-ons, according to the Evening Standard.
Chelsea have booked a medical for Petrovic, who’ll sign a contract until 2030 with the option of a further year. The 23-year-old moved to New England from Belgrade outfit Cukaricki and is one of Major League Soccer’s most promising goalkeepers.
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Carney Chukwuemeka has become the fourth Chelsea player to recently suffer a serious knee injury (
Image:
Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Petrovic was also reported to be a target for Premier League rivals Manchester United and Nottingham Forest as well as French side Nantes. It’s the second time in 12 months that Chelsea have signed a goalkeeper from the MLS, picking up Polish-American prospect Gabriel Slonina from Chicago Fire last August.
Slonina has been loaned to Belgian outfit Eupen for the 2023-24 campaign, just as Kepa made the temporary switch to Real Madrid last week. Chelsea’s former first-choice goalkeeper has moved to the Spanish capital to cover for Thibaut Courtois, who ruptured his ACL in training earlier this month.
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Boss Pochettino recruited Brighton shot-stopper Robert Sanchez prior to Kepa’s departure and the Spain international has started both of the Blues’ opening Premier League fixtures. Sanchez, 25, will now have to fend off Petrovic in the battle for the gloves at Stamford Bridge, with injury-ravaged Chelsea still searching for their first win of the season.
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