Penalty king Wilfredo Caballero set to stay at Chelsea for another season — report

Life’s never boring with Willy Caballero between the sticks. He has a swashbuckling style that delights and agonizes, often in the same game. We’re tempted to turn this post into a GIF hunt, just because he’s so entertaining!

The agony? Almost being caught some 30 or 40 yards off his line at Leicester in our latest game before the current international break, so quick was he to scoot forward and clear a ball. Only some nifty footwork by Tiemoué Bakayoko saved the day on that one. And he’s perhaps not the best at dealing with high crosses.

The delight? There are many, but how about this penalty save against Hull City?

Or keeping us in the FA Cup match against Norwich, a 1-1 draw which we eventually won on penalty kicks? (The photograph headlining this story is Caballero saving Nelson Oliveira’s penalty in that shootout.)

We could go on with these for a while, but you get the picture. He may be prone to the occasional howler but he’s been a valuable performer for Chelsea this season. Someone in the front office did a tidy job by bringing him in on a free transfer after Manchester City deemed him surplus to requirements.

And the club still see value in him as according to Goal.com’s Nizaar Kinsella, Chelsea are going to pick up the option on his contract, which currently lasts until June 2018, and bring him back for a second season.

Chelsea have generally done very well in finding the right man to backup their principal goalkeeper in Roman’s reign, and Caballero fits the model the club has adopted. He’s 10 years older than his counterpart in main goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at 35 years of age and, while he still has valuable skills that could have him landing a regular spot in a first eleven somewhere else, he’s seemingly content to get only the occasional start and mostly ride the bench.

Plus, he’s said to be a good presence in the dressing room and has a good relationship with Thibaut Courtois.

All in all, this sounds like a very good bit of business for Chelsea. Let the entertainment continue!