Had government sanctions on Roman Abramovich not hit his club Chelsea, they would be on the verge of completing a deal to sign Chicago Fire’s goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina – or so say the reports.
The Blues were in advanced negotiations to sign 17-year-old USMNT youth international Slonina before sanctions hit the club – reports Fabrizio Romano. The youngster was one of the breakout stars of Major League Soccer last year, and the Blues were willing to sign him for the future while allowing him to continue his progress in Chicago until 2023.
However, as per Romano, talks have since broken down, as uncertainty surrounds the reigning UEFA Champions League winners, their finances, their transfer dealings, their contractual negotiations, and, in general, their future. Atletico Madrid, too, have shown an interest in signing Slonina, as per reports elsewhere.
Barely two months after his 17th birthday, Slonina made history by becoming the youngest goalkeeper to start a Major League Soccer match. Debuting against New York City FC, he helped his side keep a clean sheet, therefore becoming the youngest goalkeeper to do so, too, in league history. He has made 15 appearances for the Fire since and, despite being eligible for Poland, was even called up to the USA men’s senior squad, but is yet to make his international debut.
Slonina is valued at a measly 500,000 euros by Transfermarkt, but reports suggest Chelsea were willing to pay in the region of 6-7 million to secure his signing. Other factors, such as him being under the age of 18 and having just a few months remaining on his contract – albeit with the option to extend it by a year – may alter his value if and when he does make the move.
Speculatively, Chelsea could resurrect their interest in Slonina once their takeover is complete; many of the leading groups in talks to sign the club are from the States.
Meanwhile, the MLS market is not one the Blues are unfamiliar with. The club signed Matt Miazga from New York Red Bulls back in January 2016 and gave him a couple of Premier League starts before shipping him out across Europe on several loans; Miazga remains attached to Chelsea to date.
