Chelsea will demand at least €25 million to sell 29-year-old Real Madrid target Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has no future at Stamford Bridge.
According to Fichajes, Chelsea are eager to sell kepa Arrizabalaga and will demand €25 million for the 29-year-old keeper. The Spaniard joined Real Madrid on loan after an injury to Thibaut Courtois earlier in the season and remains keen to seal a permanent transfer there.
Chelsea had wanted to look at their goalkeeping situation during the summer as Mauricio Pochettino was keen on a revamp. The departure of Edouard Mendy to Saudi Arabia opened up the idea of bringing in a competing keeper alongside Kepa Arrizabalaga, and the Blues went about signing Robert Sanchez.
Immediately afterwards, an opportunity arose for Kepa as Real Madrid lost Thibaut Courtois to a long-term, potentially season-ending injury. The Spanish giants signed the Spaniard on a loan deal, with the 29-year-old Chelsea man already willing to slash his wages to join them permanently.
Whether that’s also on Real Madrid’s mind remains the question, but suggestions are that Carlo Ancelotti’s side are not willing to pay over the odds for the 29-year-old. A story insisted they are only keen on paying around €10 million or slightly more for the Chelsea man, which may not please the Blues.
Now, Chelsea have slapped a €25 million asking price for the 29-year-old Real Madrid target, who will enter the final year of his deal next summer. Even that price point is much lower than the €80 million Chelsea paid to sign him from Athletic Club all those years ago.
Real Madrid would reportedly consider signing him, but would a permanent move be a bad deal for Kepa? The Spaniard will likely have to assume a secondary role next season when Courtois returns from his injury, and if he does sign up for them, that will spell the end for current backup keeper Andriy Lunin.
As for Chelsea, they do not see any future for Kepa. They are already searching for a new keeper, with names like Aaron Ramsdale on their list. The Arsenal star could leave next summer as Mikel Arteta has chosen David Raya as his undisputed No.1 for the foreseeable future.
For Kepa, joining Real Madrid would come as a dream, but in the longer term, he will only play a secondary role for the team behind Courtois. There are questions on whether Real Madrid will pay that €25 million asking price, as it’s a big fee for a backup stopper with a year left on his deal.
