Belgian Pro League side KAS Eupen are on the verge of signing Chelsea keeper Gabriel Slonina on a season-long loan deal.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed impending move of Gabriel Slonina to Belgian side KAS Eupen from Chelsea on a season-long loan agreement. The 19-year-old will play regular football at the Pro League club with the idea of experiencing European football.
Chelsea are in the market for a new goalkeeper and have tried their hand at some of the top names in this window. Their priority, for now, is to bring in a new central midfielder, and Brighton have rejected four bids for primary target Moises Caicedo.
With the midfielder hunt in full swing, Chelsea may have postponed the goalkeeper hunt for the latter stages of the window. They have already allowed Edouard Mendy to leave for Saudi Arabia, leaving Kepa Arrizabalaga as their only recognised senior professional.
For now, the Spaniard, Marcus Bettinelli and Gabriel Slonina remain the only choices in goal, with the latter set to leave on loan. Chelsea have targets like Diogo Costa and Leeds United’s Illan Meslier, with the latter a cheaper alternative to the former.
EXCL: Belgian side KAS Eupen closing in on deal to sign Gabriel Slonina on loan from Chelsea, here we go soon 🔵🇺🇸
🇧🇪 Understand agreement on the verge of being reached on one-year loan valid until June 2024.
Slonina will play regularly and he’s key part of #CFC future plans. pic.twitter.com/62Arj4Jhg4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 28, 2023
As for Slolina, he needs to play regularly and gain experience in European football. The USMNT star joined last season after Chelsea fought off competition from Real Madrid for the 19-year-old. They paid around £7.7 million initially, but the overall deal could cost them over £12 million if add-ons are counted.
Real Madrid retained an interest in the 19-year-old prodigy. But even then, they only wanted him as an understudy to Thuibaut Courtios, coming in as a replacement for Andriy Lunin. Moreover, Chelsea considers him a big part of their future squads, meaning a loan move was the likeliest outcome of a transfer this summer.
Belgian Pro League side KAS Eupen are now on the verge of signing the 19-year-old prodigy on a season-long loan deal. Fabrizio Romano insisted Slonina would play regularly there and thus gain the experience needed to succeed in the Premier League later.
Chelsea are uninterested in any bids for the keeper, although they cannot afford to make him Kepa’s understudy this season. The one-cap USMNT star will have a prominent role in the future. But that will also depend on who occupies the No.1 spot.
For now, he will spend the next season in Belgium, hoping to confirm his status as one of the rising stars in football. He will also watch the national team spot, which Arsenal star Matt Turner currently occupies.
