The final hours of the summer transfer window are descending into absolute madness, and Stamford Bridge has officially become Ground Zero for late-window drama. Following a frantic panic move by the Blues to secure World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, out-of-favor goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has been pushed toward the exit door, triggering a ferocious multi-club scramble for his signature.
According to exclusive reports from Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, the error-prone Spanish shot-stopper is open to a move to Nottingham Forest. However, Forest’s pursuit is far from a formality, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and ambitious Italian high-flyers Como aggressively jumping into the race to secure the 28-year-old before the deadline slams shut.
A Topsy-Turvy, Error-Strewn Stint at Stamford Bridge
Sanchez’s tenure in West London has been nothing short of a rollercoaster since his surprising £25 million switch from Brighton & Hove Albion back in August 2023. At the time, the transfer raised eyebrows across the footballing landscape, largely because the Spaniard had already lost his status as a guaranteed starter under the Seagulls toward the tail end of his tenure on the south coast.
Over the subsequent three seasons, those underlying concerns materialized on the pitch. While Sanchez managed to rack up 112 appearances for Chelsea—keeping 33 clean sheets and conceding 140 goals—his campaign was routinely punctuated by high-profile mistakes.
The tipping point arrived on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. A truly calamitous display between the sticks against Fulham proved to be the final straw for the Blues hierarchy, forcing them into a desperate, eleventh-hour scramble that culminated in the arrival of Emiliano Martinez. With Martinez now firmly establishing himself as the undisputed number one under Enzo Maresca, Sanchez finds himself surplus to requirements and eager for a fresh start.
Nottingham Forest Lead the Chase as Glasner Seeks an Upgrade
The race for Sanchez’s signature is driven by desperation from clubs looking to plug critical gaps before the window closes. Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner has made it clear behind the scenes that he remains unconvinced by Matz Sels’s long-term viability as an elite first-choice shot-stopper.
Forest initially explored a move to bring back former goalkeeper Dean Henderson, but Crystal Palace slammed the door shut, flatly refusing to part ways with the Englishman. That brick wall forced Forest to pivot directly toward Sanchez as a premier, viable alternative. Crucially, insider reports indicate that Sanchez himself is open to making the switch to the City Ground, giving Forest a massive psychological edge in negotiations.
Tottenham and Como Join the Late-Window Scramble
Nottingham Forest will not have a clear runway, however. Tottenham Hotspur have abruptly entered the fray, driven by sheer panic following a disastrous start to the 2026/27 campaign. Under Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs have suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening Premier League fixtures without managing to score a single goal. Having conceded five times already, De Zerbi is deeply anxious about the defensive stability and quality between the sticks, prompting North London chiefs to frantically seek an experienced alternative to Antonin Kinsky.
Meanwhile, a more surprising contender has emerged from the Italian peninsula. Serie A high-flyers Como—orchestrated by Cesc Fabregas—have tossed their hat into the ring. Although Fabregas already boasts four goalkeepers in his squad, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Como are actively pursuing Sanchez. The Italian club’s interest stems from Noel Tornqvist closing in on a permanent transfer to AS Monaco, leaving Como in search of a high-ceiling alternative to Jean Butez.
Como possess one major tactical advantage in negotiations: the allure of UEFA Champions League football, a carrot that could heavily tempt a player desperate to resurrect his career at the highest level.
As the final minutes of the transfer window tick away, Robert Sanchez stands at the center of a chaotic three-way tug-of-war. Whether he ends up anchoring Nottingham Forest’s defense, heading to North London with Tottenham, or taking his talents to Serie A with Como, the Spanish goalkeeper is guaranteed to be one of Deadline Day’s most compelling storylines.
