Chelsea next signing prediction made as Enzo Maresca 'still looking' at dream reunion
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will still be "looking" to sign goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, according to former Leicester City winger Matt Piper. The Denmark international, who joined the Foxes from Brondby for £6.5million back in July 2023, has been a standout performer in the Premier League this season, having made the most saves out of any goalkeeper - 31 from Leicester's opening six matches.
Thirteen of those came in Leicester's 4-2 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday. Although Hermansen did concede four, it could have been much worse if it wasn't for him after he produced a string of fine saves during that match. One of those in particular - a point-blank stop from Kai Havertz - was truly world-class.
As well as his shot-stopping ability, Hermansen is also very comfortable on the ball and showed that while playing under Maresca for Leicester last season. After Maresca swapped the East Midlands for west London back in June, it was reported that he tried to bring the 24-year-old with him to Chelsea.
That move never materialised, but ex-Leicester and Sunderland forward Piper is expecting Maresca to come back in for Hermansen, despite the fact Chelsea signed Filip Jorgensen in the summer.
"Obviously, Enzo [Maresca] wanted to take him [Hermansen] to Chelsea, that deal did not get done," Piper said on When You're Smiling. "But I'm sure Enzo will still be looking at him.
"The contrast between the two [Robert Sanchez and Hermansen], Hermansen is wonderful with the ball at his feet. Good decision maker, really crisp and clean with his playing out from the back."
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Maresca's replacement at Leicester - Steve Cooper - praised the performance of Hermansen after their defeat at Arsenal. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said "We're really happy with Mads, he's a talented young goalkeeper and he's on the right path.
"He didn't deserve to concede that third goal with the deflection, but that can happen, unfortunately. He didn't deserve to concede a goal like that, neither did the rest of the guys.
"You have to stand up, you have to keep believing in what you are doing. These are the demands of the Premier League. We fell on the wrong side today [on Saturday]."