Bournemouth working to pip Sunderland to sign Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic | OneFootball

AFC Bournemouth have joined Sunderland in the race to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic this summer. The Blues want £25 million to let him leave Stamford Bridge.

Per Sacha Tavioleri, “The Cherries are currently working to beat Sunderland in the race for Petrovic.

“The deal was almost done with Sunderland, but once Bournemouth learned about the talks with Sunderland, they felt they had a chance – they matched the Black Cats offer.”

Chelsea are open to selling Petrovic after he asked to be left out of the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Serbian wanted the Blues to assure him of his starting berth, but they refused, and he is now looking for a new stomping ground.

The entire situation with Petrovic is almost farcical. He should not have left Chelsea on loan, considering he proved a better performer than Robert Sanchez.

Petrovic proved his mettle in France and returned to meet an underperforming Sanchez.

He still cannot get a proper look into the XI at Chelsea while his Spanish counterpart continues to underwhelm between the sticks at the Club World Cup.

Chelsea need Petrovic but seem bent on selling him without an appropriate replacement after Max Allegri confirmed that AC Milan shot-stopper Mike Maignan will stay put.

The West Londoners should be trying to ship Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen off after their poor stints at Stamford Bridge, creating room for Petrovic and Mike Penders to shine.

Petrovic is an accomplished shot-stopper. His distribution improved in leaps and bounds during his loan stint with Strasbourg.

Selling the 25-year-old is the kind of mistake the Blues could regret down the line.

He was one of the top-performing keepers in Europe this season and should be strutting his stuff for Chelsea.