John Obi Mikel questions why Chelsea didn’t buy £26million star this summer

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John Obi Mikel has questioned why Chelsea didn’t make one signing this summer that would have drastically improved the squad for this season.

The Blues splashed the cash once again throughout the summer transfer window, spending £296.5million in total.

Chelsea signed the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, and Alejandro Garnacho to bolster their squad in an attacking sense, but the club didn’t make many improvements in defence.

Enzo Maresca has opted to trust the defensive setup that he already has at Stamford Bridge, and while they’ve kept two clean sheets this season, Mikel believes it’s an area to improve for his former club.

John Obi Mikel questions why Chelsea didn’t sign Gianluigi Donnarumma

One area of the team that Chelsea fans thought would be strengthened is in goal, and Mikel believes the Blues should have signed Gianluigi Donnarumma to replace Robert Sanchez.

Donnarumma joined Manchester City for £26million, which Mikel explained on the latest Obi One Podcast was a bargain that Chelsea overlooked.

“You could have just gone out and got him. £26million, 26-years-old, mind-blowing. I don’t understand why the club didn’t go out and get him.

“He is one of the best goalkeepers right now in the world. The presence. I know a lot of people talk about, ‘Oh, he’s not so good with his feet,’ but what’s a goalkeeper’s job?

“Donnarumma is the best at doing that, so for me, I don’t understand why the club didn’t do that.

“But again, Enzo Maresca thinks he’s comfortable with Sanchez, so listen, we have to support the manager in his decisions.

“But I just thought we could have gone out and strengthened that position and brought in competition with Sanchez. I thought Donnarumma would have been that guy.”

Mikel has previously been vocal about wanting Chelsea to sell Sanchez, as he doesn’t believe he’s the right man to be the club’s number one goalkeeper.

Robert Sanchez will be Chelsea’s number one again this season

Regardless of what Chelsea fans think about Sanchez, they will again have him as the first-choice goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge this season, at least until the January transfer window opens.

Sanchez suits Maresca’s style of play due to his ability with the ball at his feet, which is an area of weakness for Donnarumma generally.

Donnarumma admitted he will make mistakes at Man City, but at £26million, his shot-stopping ability might outweigh that.

However, Sanchez has made an impressive start to the new campaign, keeping two clean sheets, and Peter Schmeichel has publicly praised the goalkeeper.