West Ham door opens to sign Petrovic as Chelsea submit FIFA document
West Ham’s hopes of signing Djordje Petrovic have just been handed a significant boost.
The Hammers are in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer, with veteran Lukasz Fabianski having played his final game in claret and blue, and Alphonse Areola having struggled for consistency throughout this season.
Bringing in a new number one would be one of the first signs of Graham Potter beginning to mould the side in his image, with the former Chelsea and Brighton boss having struggled to turn things around during his time at the club so far.
Chelsea’s Petrovic has been outlined as a potential option, with the Blues currently working on their own deal for Mike Maignan.
West Ham handed boost as Chelsea leave Petrovic out of Club World Cup squad
The new-look Club World Cup is set to have a big effect on the transfer market this summer, with several of the clubs involved keen to get deals over the line in time for their new stars to feature on the world stage.
Chelsea are one of the two English clubs involved in the competition this summer and submitted confirmation of their squad to FIFA on Wednesday. (11 June).
Petrovic, who has spent the season on loan at Strasbourg in Ligue 1, has been left out of the squad along with several other Blues players who had been out on loan, with Chelsea understood to be viewing the tournament as a continuation of the 2024/25 season, according to The Telegraph (11 June).
The Serbian shotstopper will now not travel to the USA for the tournament, despite Chelsea’s pursuit of Maignan hitting something of a brick wall.
That decision from Petrovic’s parent club has opened the door for the likes of West Ham to progress their interest in the 25-year-old, who will be left to decide whether he wants to play regular first-team football.
Petrovic could be a good option for West Ham
West Ham shouldn’t be deterred by Chelsea’s rejection of Petrovic. The West London outfit have seen their goalkeeping department become particularly unsettled in recent years, so Petrovic’s rejection should be of no major concern.
He has once again proven his worth during his loan spell this term, ending the campaign as Strasbourg’s Player of the Season.
| Club | Apps |
| Cukaricki | 78 |
| New England Revolution | 45 |
| Strasbourg | 31 |
| Chelsea | 31 |
If West Ham could convince him to cross the capital and make the move to the London Stadium, then it would undoubtedly be an excellent signing. He is clearly ready for the Premier League, having spent a large chunk of the 2023/24 season between the posts for Chelsea, and would also likely represent a financially feasible deal for the Hammers.
Now that his Chelsea future seems a little more clear, West Ham should progress their interest, and push for Petrovic to become their number one next term.