The Five Reasons Chelsea Are After Jan Oblak As Journalist Confirms Club “Are Interested’ In £108m Keeper

Chelsea “are interested” in signing Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, according to Goal‘s Blues correspondent Nizaar Kinsella:

Manager Frank Lampard is not convinced by the performances of Kepa Arrizabalaga and is keen on finding a replacement in the summer transfer window.

However, signing Oblak will come at a huge cost, with Atletico unlikely to consider an offer below his €120m (£108m) release clause.

So what makes the Slovenian international so special as a keeper, and why would Chelsea be willing to make a move for a player who will cost such a sizeable sum? Press the next page as we go through the five reasons the Blues could be pursuing the shot-stopper.

Oblak’s Shot-stopping is first class

This campaign, Oblak has saved 77% of the shots he has faced, which is among the best save percentage ratios in Europe’s top five leagues.

In contrast to Kepa, who has been among the Premier League’s worst performers on that metric, the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper is a reliable shot-stopper who can be trusted to make some world-class saves when called upon.

He is a leader

At the start of the 2019/20 season, Atletico manager Diego Simeone opted to put together a leadership group of four players, which includes Oblak, Koke, Saul Niguez and Jose Gimenez.

As a result, the Slovenian has captained the Spanish side on nine occasions this campaign, including games against Barcelona and rivals Real Madrid.

Oblak is still relatively young for a keeper

At 27 years of age, the shot-stopper is only a couple of years older than Kepa, and if he were to move to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea could get at least a decade of his best performances.

Goalkeepers tend to perform consistently well into their late thirties and the Blues will be keeping this in mind when they look at his potential asking price. An investment for the long term.

He is physically imposing

At 6ft 2, Oblak is actually only an inch taller than Kepa but you wouldn’t think that by looking at the two goalkeepers. The Atletico star has a much bigger frame than Chelsea’s number one, giving him a presence in goal which his Spanish counterpart lacks.

Combined with his leadership qualities, it gives the defenders in front of him a lot more confidence that he will deal with dangerous balls inside the penalty area.

Oblak is a winner

The Slovenian has already won a whole host of trophies during his career both in Portugal and in Spain. He won the league, the Portuguese Cup and the League Cup in his four years at Benfica.

After moving to Atletico, Oblak has gone on to win the Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup, whilst also being in the side that reached the Champions League final in 2016.

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