Chelsea have made contact with the agency of Gregor Kobel and are 'very interested' in signing the Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper, according to Sport1 chief reporter Patrick Berger.
The Lowdown: Goalkeeper needed?
Edouard Mendy has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea this season, being benched on four occasions prior to his recent injury issues, while Kepa Arrizabalaga was slammed for his performance against Leicester City at the weekend.
The Express recently speculated that youngster Gabriel Slonina could step in to replace Arrizabalaga, however the Blues have also been linked with a plethora of options that possess proven Premier League experience.
Reporter Ben Jacobs has claimed that David Raya, Robert Sanchez and Jordan Pickford are all 'liked' by Chelsea, while another option from abroad is now said to be on Graham Potter's transfer shortlist...
The Latest: Kobel targeted
According to Sport1 reporter Berger, the Blues are 'very interested' in signing Kobel, having already held a meeting with an advisor from the goalkeeper's agency to assess his availability.
The hunt for a new option between the sticks has intensified because Chelsea 'aren't really convinced' by Kepa, and they want to bring in a player who can make the position their own for the next ten years.
Manchester United are also interested in signing the 6 foot 4 colossus, however both Premier League clubs may have their work cut out convincing him, given that he currently has no desire to leave Dortmund.
The Verdict: Get it done?
If the 25-year-old does become available in the summer transfer window, then there are indications he would be an excellent addition to Potter's squad, although it is unclear whether he would be an upgrade on Kepa.
The Switzerland international possesses a better clean sheet percentage per 90 than the Spaniard over the course of the past year, however he lags behind the Chelsea shot-stopper in key metrics such as save percentage and average goals against.
Despite the criticism he has received, Kepa is still ranked by Sofascore as the Blues' second-best performing player in the Premier League this season, recording an average match rating of 7.26.
As such, Potter does not need to sign a replacement in the summer if his current first choice continues to perform the way he has been, and Kobel, who has been lauded 'fantastic' by the media, should only be targeted if there is a noticeable dip in Kepa's performances between now and the end of the season.