Why Chelsea should go all out to sign Nick Pope
According to Daily Star, Chelsea are interested in signing Burnley star Nick Pope to bolster their squad.
Pope, 28, rose through the ranks of Ipswich Town and joined Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2011. However, he initially spent most of his time on loan in the lower leagues, playing for clubs like Cambridge United, York City and Bury FC. He then made the jump to Burnley in the summer of 2016.
Though he struggled to get regular game time in his first season with the Clarets, he became a regular member since the 2017/18 campaign. And this season, he has been one of the standout shot-stoppers in the top-flight, missing out on the Golden Glove to Manchester City’s Ederson, who kept 16 clean sheets.
Pope has also been capped twice for England and has improved a lot since his Charlton days. Thus, Chelsea should make a swift move for the Englishman.
Pope could be a replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga at Chelsea
The Blues have faced issues in the goalkeeping department. Spanish international Kepa Arrizabalaga is their first-choice in goal but the former Athletic Bilbao man has struggled with inconsistency. He was also left out of the team on several occasions by Frank Lampard.
Second-choice shot-stopper Willy Caballero hasn’t performed admirably either, failing to make use of the opportunities he has received. He is already 38 and is nearing the twilight of his career. Moreover, the Argentine has only one more year left on his contract and his departure would leave the Blues with limited options. Thus, an in-form goalkeeper is a must in the summer.
To that end, Pope would be a fantastic signing for Chelsea. The English international has been in sensational form this season and was one of the key players in Burnley’s good run of form in the second half of the campaign. He managed to keep 15 clean sheets in 38 games this season, just one less than City’s Ederson. And he could be a crucial player for Lampard’s side next term.
Read more
- Why Chelsea should make a move for Marc Cucurella
- Why Denis Zakaria to Chelsea would bolster their midfield
Verdict
Given the lack of quality in Chelsea’s goalkeeping department, the Blues are in dire need of shot-stoppers. And Pope, who has produced his best, could only get better with time. Thus, they should lure the English international to Stamford Bridge at the earliest.
