Highly sought-after Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina has reportedly agreed terms with Chelsea for a move to the club. The report, from Fabrizio Romano, indicates that the player will cost 10 million in an unspecified currency with add-ons and that he will return to the MLS side on loan.
Gabriel Slonina’s agent Jaime Garcia has informed Chicago Fire that they reached an agreement on personal terms with Chelsea. 🚨🔵 #CFC
CFC will submit official bid and send paperworks, after verbal agreement with Chicago: 10m plus add-ons.
Slonina will stay at Chicago on loan. pic.twitter.com/Ky66pzXjpa
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 15, 2022
The teenage goalkeeper was linked with Real Madrid earlier in the window but his agent has now told his club that the player has agreed personal terms with Thomas Tuchel’s side with an official bid expected to come soon.
Gabriel Slonina Agrees Personal Terms With Chelsea
One for the Future
A talented goalkeeper is always in demand and clubs nowadays try to identify such talents as early as possible. The dogfight between major clubs over Slonina should be an indication of his potential, but he is clearly one for the future rather than someone who will battle for game time in the coming season.
Read More: Edouard Mendy is The Best Chelsea Signing in Recent History
Returning to the MLS on loan will allow the young American to continue his development as he will be unable to unseat the fantastic Edouard Mendy as Tuchel’s number one goalkeeping option.
Low-Risk Investment
The Blues would be crazy not to take a punt on the young goalkeeper for such a low fee. If he doesn’t hit the heights expected of him then the club could recoup some of the money for him in future, as there is always a demand for a decent goalkeeper.
On the other hand, if Slonina does flourish into a top-tier goalkeeper then this will be an incredibly wise purchase that could save the club tens of millions on fees if they were to buy him down the line. All in all, this is smart business from Chelsea who may have picked up a marketable international superstar for a bargain of a price.
