10 months ago
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CHELSEA are reportedly ready to make a massive loss on Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The world’s most expensive goalkeeper is currently on loan at Real Madrid as he was signed as cover for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
GettyArrizabalaga, 29, has failed to cement himself as the first choice under Carlo Ancelotti.
The Spaniard was playing regularly after his initial arrival, but an abductor injury in November saw him benched for Andriy Lunin.
Spanish outlet Sport has claimed that the LaLiga giants need a reliable stopper to replace Courtois.
Ancelotti is currently deciding between Kepa and Lunin on a game-by-game basis.
Chelsea are keen to get the loanee off their wage bill and the report has suggested that his price has dropped dramatically.
It is said that the Blues will sell the former Athletic Bilbao prospect for just £21million.
This is £50m less than the £71.6m that they paid for the goalkeeper back in 2018.
Real Madrid are not keen on rushing to make a decision on Kepa and are hoping that Courtois will be back from injury for the end of the season.
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The former Chelsea star suffered a ruptured ACL injury back in August and was seen leaving training in tears.
The Belgian has won eight trophies since joining Real Madrid for £35millon in 2018, including the Champions League and two La Liga crowns.
Chelsea signed Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in the summer as Kepa’s replacement.
However, he has also picked up an injury which has led to Đorđe Petrović being given a chance by Mauricio Pochettino.
Kepa's career timeline
Kepa Arrizabalaga has had some low points during his Chelsea career
The goalkeeper joined Chelsea in 2018, becoming the most expensive goalkeeper of all time just weeks after Liverpool broke the previous record to sign Allison.
In his debut campaign, he had a bust-up with manager Maurizio Sarri when he refused to come off for Willy Caballero in extra time of the League Cup final against Liverpool, which the Blues would go on to lose on penalties.
He would make amends as he helped the club win the Europa League against Arsenal in the final.
In 2020, the stopper was replaced by Eduoard Mendy, who starred as Chelsea won the Champions League against Manchester City.
Arrizabalaga was then given another chance in a penalty shootout in the Super Cup in 2021 and he saved two penalties in the win over Villarreal.
However, he was unable to repeat the feat in the 2022 EFL Cup final defeat against Liverpool, in what turned out to be a cruel twist of fate.
In contrast to 2019, the Spaniard was brought on for Edouard Mendy to keep goal in the penalty shootout, but then failed to save a single penalty and missed his own effort.
Arrizabalaga turned his fortunes around after Graham Potter was hired as manager but was unable to convince the club that he should be a long-term star.
In the summer of 2023, he was loaned to Real Madrid as cover for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
However, Kepa failed to do his chances of a permanent transfer any favours when he gifted Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata a goal after an embarrassing collision with Antonio Rudiger in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final.
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