Chelsea target Jan Oblak impresses as Slovenia clinch UEFA Nations League promotion as Premier League scouts continue to watch Atletico Madrid keeper with enormous £107m buy-out clause
- Premier League scouts continue to monitor Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak
- He is keen to leave Atletico but his £107million buy-out clause is prohibitive
- A move to Chelsea faltered with the Blues buying the cheaper Edouard Mendy
- Mendy’s rival Kepa Arrizabalaga is frustrated at losing his place at Chelsea
- Oblak has impressed as Slovenia clinched promotion in the Nations League
Chelsea goalkeeping target Jan Oblak maintained his outstanding form as Slovenia completed an unbeaten Nations League group to clinch promotion to League B on Wednesday evening.
Premier League scouts continue to monitor the 27-year-old who is keen to leave Atletico Madrid for a fresh challenge but is hindered by his massive £107million buy-out clause.
Oblak saw a move to Chelsea falter as a result with the Stamford Bridge club’s technical adviser Petr Cech advising a move for the considerably cheaper Edouard Mendy instead.
Jan Oblak has been watched by Premier League scouts and is keen to leave Atletico Madrid
Oblak played well for Slovenia as they gained promotion in the UEFA Nations League this week
However, Mendy’s rival Kepa Arrizabalaga is now exploring options ahead of the January window. The £72m signing is frustrated at losing his place and either needs games on loan to rebuild his confidence or will seek a permanent move.
Chelsea admire Oblak but are reluctant to spend so heavily on that position again. They and other Premier League sides are keeping an eye on Oblak’s form though.
He kept five clean sheets in five games during Slovenia’s campaign, the last coming in Wednesday’s 0-0 draw in Greece, despite the home side peppering in 15 shots. The point was enough for Slovenia to secure top spot in their group and promotion.
Chelsea considered Oblak but Frank Lampard went for Edouard Mendy instead in the summer
Mendy is keeping £72m stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga out of the Chelsea side at present
He said: ‘Being able to take this step forward as a national team is a moment of joy for us. We’re working hard to grow together and be able to compete at a better level.
‘Greece are a team that are used to being in the major tournaments and they had the same target as us, so to finish ahead of them is a big success for us as a team.
‘It was a tough game because they pushed us until the end, they needed the win, a point was enough for us and that’s why we had to defend so much but we did will.
‘I’m pleased both individually and collectively at the way we’ve finished this Nations league campaign
Oblak returns to La Liga action this weekend with the prospect of a slightly sterner test against Barcelona. Once again he is the form goalkeeper in Spain having conceded only two goals in seven league games.