'Fairytale Shout': Why Jody Morris Says Vinicius Jr Won’t Join Chelsea Despite Premier League Buzz

‎Jody Morris has played down Chelsea’s reported interest in Vinicius Junior, branding the idea of a Stamford Bridge move as nothing more than a “fairytale shout.” Although the former Blues midfielder is a big fan of the Real Madrid winger, he believes Vinicius is seen as “too old” for Chelsea’s ownership, which prefers to invest in younger talent with long-term upside. Even so, growing talk of a Premier League switch in 2026 continues to surround the Brazilian ‘Galactico.’

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Ex-Chelsea man Jody Morris doubts Vinicius Junior will move to Stamford Bridge, citing age concerns and huge costs as Real Madrid plan new contract talks.

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‎With Vinicius entering the final year of his contract in Madrid, Real are facing a pivotal moment regarding his future. While a contract extension remains a possibility, circumstances have shifted following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, a coach Vinicius previously had issues with. The Spanish club is preparing new talks with the South American in the hope of striking a deal that satisfies everyone involved.

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‎Despite those plans, Vinicius has offered little insight into his next move and is keeping his options open. Reports indicate that eye-watering proposals from the Saudi Pro League are ready, making the financial lure difficult to resist. At the same time, elite Premier League sides are said to be keeping tabs on his situation.

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‎Chelsea are among the clubs linked, but Morris is unconvinced a transfer will happen. Speaking to AceOdds, he praised Vinicius’ performance in the Supercopa de Espana, recalling his standout goal and how he outplayed Jules Kounde. While Morris admitted he would love to sign the Brazilian himself, he questioned whether Chelsea’s owners would commit to such a massive outlay for a player approaching 26.

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‎He also joked about Chelsea’s recent asset sales, casting doubt on whether there is still enough financial room to fund a deal for Vinicius. Morris further questioned whether the winger would even consider joining Chelsea in their current state, ultimately concluding that while the idea sounds good, it is unrealistic.

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‎Morris also weighed in on speculation that Chelsea could look for a new No.1 goalkeeper in the summer of 2026. With Robert Sanchez currently holding the spot, AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan has been linked as a possible target as he nears free agency.

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‎However, Morris is not convinced Chelsea should prioritize signing Maignan, arguing instead that the club missed out when Gianluigi Donnarumma became available from Paris Saint-Germain. He acknowledged Sanchez’s improvement this season, praising his command of the penalty area and his ability to start attacks quickly.

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‎While Morris is unsure whether Sanchez can be Chelsea’s long-term solution for the next three or four years, he stressed that any new goalkeeper must be clearly better, not just an alternative option. He added that if Maignan were to replace Sanchez, he would need to be “levels above,” pointing out that Donnarumma is a world-class talent capable of taking a team to another level.

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‎Sanchez has been the preferred choice for both Enzo Maresca and new Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior this season. Even so, Chelsea are always looking to strengthen their squad, which could eventually see them explore potential moves for both Vinicius and Maignan.