"What Chelsea are doing now... buying, buying, buying" – Pundit blasts Enzo Maresca's side for making move to sign highly rated star

Ex-Belgium and Club Brugge midfielder Franky Van der Elst has hit out at Chelsea for pursuing a permanent transfer to sign KRC Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders this summer.

The Blues, who signed Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic last summer, are said to be in pursuit of Penders now. They have agreed to sign the Belgian shot-stopper close to £17 million, according to HITC.

During a recent chat with Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Van der Elst offered his thoughts on the west London outfit's potential move for Penders. He opined (h/t HITC):

"To read right after his first official match for Genk that he is on his way to Chelsea, and for such an amount, that is shocking. [This sort of transfer activity is] unprecedented. Maybe even unheard of. What Chelsea are doing now... buying, buying, buying and then hoping that one of the many transfers will pay off – I really do not think is good for football."

Van der Elst, who earned 86 international caps for Belgium, concluded:

"[They] have seven or eight goalkeepers, right? They just paid [around £21 million] for Filip Jorgensen; also a young goalkeeper, but three years older than Penders and already a first-team player at Villarreal for a season. So he will definitely have priority in the near future."

Penders, who made his senior debut for Genk last month, has featured in two total games for his boyhood club. The 19-year-old made 37 appearances for his team's age-group teams prior to his senior debut.

Chelsea new boy Filip Jorgensen opens up on ambitions to become club's number one

Last week, Chelsea finalised a permanent switch worth around £21 million to rope in Danish shot-stopper Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.

Speaking to club media, Jorgensen claimed that he is ready to offer competition to Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. He said (h/t GOAL):

"Competition is always good. I came here to compete and obviously the one who plays is up to the manager. So, I will try to do my best every day in training and then at the end of it the manager will decide who plays. Everyone, to be honest, is working with me very well. Robert as well, he seems to be a very good guy, a good trainer. I think it will be healthy competition and a good competition."

Jorgensen, 22, relished a breakout season for Villarreal last term as he registered six clean sheets in 37 appearances across all competitions.