Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was keen on joining Chelsea during the summer transfer window, according to Blues goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon.
Chelsea lost Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid in the final few days of the window and ended up spending a world-record £71.6million on young Spanish stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Lollichon has now revealed that he held talks with the 25-year-old over the summer, with the 6ft 5in [Transfermarkt] France international colossus said to have been interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to Le Figaro, Lollichon said: “We spoke a lot in the summer. He wanted to come here, but the final decision was not my responsibility. It would have been a pleasure to work with him.”
OPINION
A move for Areola would have been an interesting option for the Blues over the summer, and one that would certainly have been cheaper than their world-record swoop for Arrizabalaga. The 25-year-old has impressed ever since breaking into the PSG team a few years ago, and has been unlucky to find himself behind some world class stoppers in the pecking order at the Parc des Princes. Areola underlined his burgeoning reputation with a stunning performance between the sticks for France against Germany in midweek, with a couple of brilliant saves being highlights. There is no doubt that this young stopper will go on to some big things within the game, and Chelsea would have done well to snap him up. As it is, he is left behind Gianluigi Buffon at club level, and he will surely be snapped up by another big team should that situation continue for much longer.