Bournemouth’s Pursuit of Djordje Petrovic
Bournemouth is reportedly nearing an agreement with Chelsea to secure goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, although a final deal has yet to be formalized. The Cherries are actively seeking a new starting goalkeeper following the recent transfer of Kepa Arrizabalaga back to Chelsea and his subsequent move to Arsenal.
Petrovic’s Situation at Chelsea
In July, Chelsea and the 25-year-old Petrovic reportedly reached an informal understanding allowing him to seek a new club, with a price tag around £25 million anticipated. Given Chelsea’s inability to guarantee Petrovic a starting position, he has been exploring new opportunities, leading to the current discussions with Bournemouth.
Other Transfer Activities
Additionally, the Blues are working on a potential £8 million transfer for left-back Ishe Samuels-Smith to Strasbourg, a club not only interested in Samuels-Smith but also linked to Chelsea through shared ownership. Samuels-Smith, who signed from Everton for £4 million last year, is yet to make his debut in a competitive fixture.
Petrovic’s Performance and Future
“Petrovic, who was excluded from Chelsea’s squad for the Club World Cup earlier this month, has drawn attention from several clubs across the Premier League and other European leagues.”
Upon returning to training at Chelsea this week, he joins several other players who were omitted from the World Cup roster after spending last season on loan. Petrovic came to Chelsea from the New England Revolution in the MLS in 2023 and began as a backup to Robert Sanchez. However, following Sanchez’s injury in December, Petrovic secured the starting role and concluded the season with a total of 31 appearances across all competitions.
Despite his time at Chelsea, where he made 22 Premier League appearances in the 2023-24 season, Petrovic was loaned out to Strasbourg after Chelsea signed Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal. During his loan, he played 31 matches and was recognized as the supporters’ player of the season under coach Liam Rosenior, who also led the team to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1.
