This feels… unlikely
Chelsea are hopeful of offloading Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer after a season of unconvincing performances.
Kepa arrived for a world record fee for a goalkeeper in 2018 from Athletic Club, but has not performed well enough to justify the £72m fee in his two seasons at Chelsea.
Frank Lampard is now hoping to bring in a new goalkeeper, whether or not the club are able to secure a move for Kepa, with loans to Valencia and Sevilla mooted.
Both The Telegraph and Mundo Deportivo have reported Chelsea’s interest in signing Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter-Stegen, possibly in a player-plus-cash move with Kepa moving the other way. I guess, in the same way that I am interested in buying a house in exchange for an old bike and a £20 note.
Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak is another name that has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in a similar deal. Again, never going to happen. His release clause is £120m. And he’s really good. Atletico would be mad to sell.
Neither of these moves are likely to happen, which leaves Chelsea more likely to subsidise Kepa’s wages while he spends a season or two out on loan.
Another option for the London club would be to keep Kepa as back up, relegate Willy Caballero to third choice and bring in a new number 1.
Chelsea have already spent big money this summer on Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, and are close to securing 21-year-old Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen.
They also have eyes on a new left-back, with Atalanta’s Robin Gosens a possible target as well as Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell.
Having been restricted by a transfer ban last summer, Chelsea look set to be the biggest spenders in this window, as they look to rejuvenate their squad and mount a title challenge.
