Chelsea target Nick Pope shows off goalkeeping skills
Chelsea should sign Burnley star Nick Pope to solve their problems in goal, according to former Blues midfielder Craig Burley. Pope is one of a host of goalkeepers who have been linked with a move to Chelsea this summer. Head coach Frank Lampard is not convinced by Kepa Arrizabalaga and dropped the Spaniard on two separate occasions from the Premier League side last season.
Pope, 28, has excelled for Burnley since becoming the club's No 1 at the beginning of the 2017/18 season.
He has won two caps for England but Burley believes he is next in line to be Gareth Southgate's regular goalkeeper following a poor season for Everton star Jordan Pickford.
The pundit can see Pope playing for England at Euro 2020, which will take place next summer following the coronavirus pandemic.
And Burley therefore thinks Chelsea should pursue the Burnley man as a replacement for Arrizabalaga this summer.
"But I do think that come the Euros in 2021, if he continues the way he did last year, Jordan Pickford won't be England No 1, or I would be surprised if he was England No 1 come the Euros, that's how well Pope played, and that's been noticed.
"I don't know if Lampard likes him but for me, that would be a much better scenario than Kepa starting the season.
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Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes Chelsea must sign a new goalkeeper to challenge for major honours this season.
Nicol said: "You kind of wonder how they're going to get one because they can't go out and spend a lot of money on a goalie the way they did for Kepa and you have to think this is down to Kepa.
"He must have a horrible attitude because there's no question, as far as ability as a goalkeeper, he's way ahead of [Willy] Caballero. So this guy must have a rotten personality.
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Chelsea transfer news: Nick Pope has excelled for Burnley in recent seasons (Image: GETTY)
"Clearly Frank isn't putting up with it and that's why Caballero's playing.
"So, unfortunately for Chelsea, you're not challenging at the very highest level if you don't have a good goalkeeper."
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