![\"Aston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-1396922925.jpg\")
\n\t\tFormer England and Premier League goalkeeper David James (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tFormer England and Premier League goalkeeper David James (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
David James<\/a> has surprisingly claimed \u2018outstanding goalkeeper\u2019 Robert Sanchez<\/a> can be the \u2018foundation\u2019 of Chelsea<\/a>\u2019s Premier League<\/a> title challenge.<\/p>\n A number of pundits are of the belief that major trophies will be beyond Chelsea until Spanish shot-stopper Sanchez is replaced<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sanchez, a \u00a325m signing from Brighton<\/a>, made a number of errors last season despite Chelsea qualifying for the Champions League<\/a> and winning the Conference League.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old fared better during Chelsea\u2019s victorious Club World Cup<\/a> campaign over the summer and has been largely dependable this season, according to ex-England goalkeeper James.<\/p>\n James, speaking to Metro on behalf of AskGamblers<\/a>, described Sanchez as \u2018outstanding\u2019 and even hailed Chelsea\u2019s No. 1 as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Chelsea every day\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s Football Newsletter. <\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your team in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.<\/p>\n Far from doubting Chelsea\u2019s title aspirations while Sanchez is between the posts, James believes the Spaniard can be a key player as Enzo Maresca looks to clinch the Premier League trophy.<\/p>\n Asked who he views as the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, James said: \u2018Certain goalkeepers suit certain teams.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018David Raya at Arsenal, of course, has lots and lots of clean sheets, and he\u2019s produced some decent saves, but he\u2019s not overly used or needed.<\/p>\n \u2018Arguably, the one or two times he was needed were against Manchester City and the [Dominik Szoboszlai] free kick against Liverpool.<\/p>\n \u2018However, after eight games Arsenal are at the top of the table and he\u2019s had I think he\u2019s had five clean sheets. I think he is definitely up there as the best performing one at the moment.<\/p>\n To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web \u2018But Gianluigi Donnarumma obviously came in [to Manchester City] and while he hasn\u2019t got the same aesthetics as David Raya, he\u2019s helped make them look like title challengers again.<\/p>\n \u2018So I\u2019d put him up there. Alisson is another one even though he\u2019s injured at the moment and Liverpool are struggling.<\/p>\n \u2018But the one I was actually going to say was Robert Sanchez. I know there are a lot of people who look at Sanchez and question his capabilities but I think he is outstanding.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018I think the one thing that he\u2019s done this season, more so than last season,\u00a0 is contribute with his distribution. His long balls, similar to David Raya, have been exceptional, not only getting the team out of trouble, but actually starting attack moves.<\/p>\n \u2018And if you look at that Club World Cup, his distribution against PSG was ridiculous and caused all sorts of problems.<\/p>\n \u2018So I just think that we\u2019ve got a goalkeeper there who I think will be the foundation for Chelsea\u2019s challenge for the title.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I think Chelsea will be up there because, first of all, the outfield players. But as I say, with Robert Sanchez they\u2019ve got a goalkeeper who I think could deliver for them this season.\u2019<\/p>\n Maresca\u2019s Chelsea have won their last four games in all competitions and thrashed Ajax 5-1 in the Champions League last time out<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Blues, currently fifth in the Premier League, return to action on Saturday against in-form newly-promoted side Sunderland.<\/p>\n Regis Le Bris\u2019 Black Cats have only lost two of their opening eight games back in the top-flight ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"FC](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2235523766.jpg\")
\n\t\tDivisive Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2242775444.jpg\")
\n\t\tChelsea thumped Ajax last time out (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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