Bournemouth want to secure the services of Chelsea outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga on a permanent basis ahead of next season.
According to a report from Football Insider, Bournemouth are set to prioritise the permanent signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer. The Cherries are quite impressed with the performances of the Chelsea outcast, and they want to have him around for years to come.
The Blues signed Arrizabalaga from Athletic Club back in 2018 in what was a record-breaking deal. While the Spaniard was a key figure in their team in the initial years, he went down their pecking order slowly.
The Spanish international was on loan at Real Madrid last season. Despite putting in impressive performances, they ended up sending him out on loan to the Cherries, as Enzo Maresca did not have him in his plans.
The 30-year-old is certainly enjoying life under Andoni Iraola as he has featured in 22 league games while keeping five clean sheets. While Bournemouth are tenth on the table, they are just four points off a UEFA Champions League spot; as a result, they still have a lot to fight for.
Arrizabalaga is expected to return to his parent club in the summer, but he has no future under Maresca, as Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen are both ahead of him in the pecking order. Since he will only have 12 months left on his deal, the Blues will look to cash in on him.
Bournemouth pushing for a permanent deal
Bournemouth are quite impressed with his performances, and they would love to secure his services permanently. But any deal will depend on his willingness to accept a significant wage cut. While Chelsea are ready to sell, they want a decent fee to part ways with the Spanish international. A lowball offer won’t work, as the club aims to raise funds from his departure.
While Cherries do want to reinforce their squad as a whole, they will prioritise signing Arrizabalaga permanently. If they manage to secure Champions League football, it will certainly enhance their chance of securing his services. Meanwhile, the Spaniard seeks regular first-team football and would be open to talks of securing a permanent move away from Stamford Bridge.
