Chelsea Football Club face a substantial financial demand if they are to secure the services of Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen, with the goalkeeper valued at £35 million (€41.6 million/$45.2 million).
This hefty price tag has been unveiled by a journalist, as Chelsea weigh up their options for bolstering their goalkeeping department.
Current No. 1 Robert Sanchez’s inconsistent performances have led to speculation that Chelsea may dip into the transfer market for a reliable shot-stopper.
Though Porto’s Diogo Costa has previously emerged as a prime target, Hermansen’s name has also entered the fray, with many at the club eyeing him as a strong alternative.
In a notable twist, it’s understood that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had originally favoured a move for Hermansen during the summer window, when he left Leicester to join the West London club.
Instead, the Blues opted to bring in Filip Jorgensen as a backup goalkeeper, though Maresca’s preference for Hermansen is well-documented due to the Dane’s proficiency with the ball at his feet—a quality that suits Maresca’s philosophy of building from the back.
Journalist Ben Jacobs, sharing insights into Chelsea’s interest, explained that while Hermansen could be available, Chelsea may not be ready to spend heavily.
They are likely to explore options within their existing ranks, including 19-year-old Mike Penders, currently on loan at Genk and highly rated as a future star.
“Leicester have no plans to lose Mads Hermansen mid-season. It would likely take £35m+ to change that. The bigger fear is if Leicester go down, Hermansen would be very hard to keep,” Jacobs told GiveMeSport.
“It was the same with James Maddison and Harvey Barnes. It’s true that Enzo Maresca really trusted and liked Hermansen when he was Leicester manager, but Chelsea are not urgently seeking another goalkeeper. There is still trust in Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen to compete for the number one spot.”
Jacobs further highlighted the club’s pipeline of emerging talents, noting that alongside Djordje Petrovic, who is currently gaining experience on loan at Strasbourg, Penders will return to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2025 with high expectations.
“It’s also worth adding that along with Djordje Petrovic, who is on-loan at Strasbourg, Mike Penders will arrive in summer 2025. He is rated extremely highly. Chelsea believe the 19-year-old has enormous potential.”
Despite the speculation, Maresca has recently reinforced his faith in Sanchez as Chelsea’s first-choice keeper, with Jorgensen making a case for himself in cup competitions, such as the Europa Conference League and the League Cup.
Given Maresca’s history with Leicester, it’s unsurprising to see Hermansen linked to Chelsea, particularly after the manager reunited with former Foxes midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
However, with a host of options already available in goal, Chelsea are expected to prioritise reinforcements in other areas of the pitch come 2025.
In related transfer developments, Chelsea appear open to receiving offers for Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Signed amid much fanfare, Fernandez’s role at the club has been under scrutiny, as Maresca favours a midfield pairing of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, relegating Fernandez to a bench role.
The Argentine’s future is becoming increasingly unclear, with Chelsea also reported to be eyeing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as a potential upgrade for their attacking ranks.
Osimhen, who was heavily linked with Chelsea over the summer, ultimately joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan. Yet Chelsea remain interested, and a renewed bid is anticipated at the season’s end.
However, Chelsea may face a challenge from Galatasaray, who are eager to secure Osimhen on a permanent basis.
Reports from Turkey suggest the club have tabled a €50 million (£42 million/$54 million) offer—an amount still short of Napoli’s valuation but one that underlines the competition Chelsea could encounter in their pursuit of the Nigerian marksman.