Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are reportedly eyeing a summer move for RB Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi as replacements for their respective number ones.
According to ESPN, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are both looking to lay down contingency plans in case their respective first-choice goalkeepers – Thibaut Courtois and Jan Oblak – end up leaving in the summer. And the duo are taking a keen interest in RB Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi as an option in the summer.
Peter Gulacsi has been a journeyman for most of his footballing career. The player had been sent on loan to different clubs by Liverpool since joining the Premier League club from Hungarian club MTK. But, he seems to have finally found a home at RB Leipzig, a team that has taken world football by storm.
From being sent on loan to the likes of Tranmere Rovers and Hull City to becoming the first-choice at RB Leipzig, a club that is vying for the top spots in domestic competitions and Europe, Gulacsi has had a brilliant turnaround in his footballing career.
Gulacsi has missed just one match this season for RB Leipzig in all competitions combined and while he does have a modest shutout record – 7 in 38 matches, it is his ability to spring up with important saves that has seen him maintain his spot as the first-choice at the club.
But, the 27-year-old is now on the radar of other top clubs like Atletico Madrid and Chelsea. At Atletico, Jan Oblak has been guarding the posts quite well. But, his performances have brought forth interest from the likes of PSG, Arsenal and others, with many speculating that the upcoming transfer window might just see the goalkeeper leave Wanda Metropolitano.
If Oblak is a speculative departure come summer, there is a bit more certainty surrounding Courtois and his future at Chelsea. The player has been longing for a return to the Spanish capital, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid both eyeing the star as a potential addition to the squad.
Thus, both Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are in search of a quality goalkeeper to keep as a contingency plan should their respective players leave. Chelsea could be even more encouraged in Gulacsi’s pursuit by the fact that the Hungarian qualifies as a Home Grown player, having spent five years at Liverpool.
RB Leipzig would ideally, not like to part with Gulacsi. But, the Bundesliga outfit currently find themselves on the sixth spot in the league and could miss out on a berth in European competitions for the upcoming season, something which Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are both quite likely to provide, which could prove to be a major factor in Gulacsi’s decision.
The player is contracted to RB Leipzig till 2022 and would command a considerable fee. But, if Courtois or Oblak do end up leaving, Gulacsi could be a viable option, especially considering the fact that, at 27, he is likely entering the prime years of a goalkeeper’s career.
