Atletico Madrid are worried that Chelsea will ask them about Jan Oblak.
The Slovenian has made his name as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet in recent seasons thanks to his unrivalled record of keeping clean sheets, which is far superior to that of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Spaniard has failed to deliver since his move from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, and was at times dropped by Frank Lampard for Willy Caballero across the 2019/20 campaign.
La Liga outfit Atletico are now said to be frightened that a Chelsea approach will turn the head of their 27-year-old, as detailed by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
"Atletico Madrid are scared that Oblak will listen to that proposition, to that offer, which could arrive if Chelsea feel that Oblak will be willing to leave," Balague told viewers on his YouTube channel.
"Because the buyout clause is so high, and you're talking about the most expensive goalkeeper in history, and that's something that Chelsea will have to obviously try to reduce for Kepa to go the other way.
"Right now, from Atletico Madrid they're saying and [Diego] Simeone is saying that everything starts with Oblak, that he needs to stay.
"And my understanding is that right now at this stage there has been no offer from Chelsea at all. So we'll have to keep an eye on it."
Although Atletico have no desire to watch Oblak leave in a part exchange deal with Chelsea that includes Kepa, the arrivals of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech and potentially Kai Havertz could turn the player’s head.
The Blues were told by Jamie Carragher last month that they needed a new goalkeeper if they wanted to push for titles over the next few seasons, and pointed towards Liverpool’s move for Alisson as an example.
While on Sky Sports, the former England defender said: “Chelsea won't go no further unless they change their goalkeeper.
“Going back to how important goalkeepers are I look at this Chelsea team and there's a lot I like about it, it does remind me in a lot of ways the position Jurgen Klopp was in a couple of years ago.
“[Lampard] has done as much as he can, yes Frank's still in his early stages but those big signings can completely transform you as a team.
“I still think Chelsea need a defender, you see how many goals they've conceded. I think a lot of that is down to the goalkeeper being totally honest.
“You see a lot of centre-halves at Chelsea without seeing one really outstanding one, those are the areas that if they are going to challenge Liverpool and Man City they'll have to rectify in the summer.
“They are the worst team in the league defending corners. This is a massive problem for Chelsea.
“Yes, Werner is coming in and the lad from Ajax, there is talk of Havertz as well. It sounds great and it gets supporters excited but it means nothing if you don't sort out that back three and certainly that goalkeeper.”
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