The Blues broke the world record for a goalkeeper when they signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Club in 2018. Four years later, they are are prepared to cut their ties with the Spaniard, who is below Edouard Mendy in the pecking order currently.
After enduring a torrid spell under Frank Lampard, and eventually losing his place to Mendy in the first-team, Kepa is finally enjoying a spell of resurgence. The Spaniard kept goal for the Blues in cup competitions this season and throughout the month of January while the Senegal international was away at AFCON, looking more and more like the player the club broke the bank for. However, despite his heroics, Kepa’s future may lie away from Stamford Bridge with Chelsea open to a summer sale.
As per Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian, the club is prepared to receive inquiries about Kepa in the summer and will not stand in the goalkeeper’s way should he decide to seek a new challenge; the Blues, as per the report, are anticipating interest in the custodian from his native Spain, in particular.
Despite his recent performances, Kepa remains the ‘number two’ at Chelsea. The 72 million-worth goalkeeper is on the bench when Mendy is fit and available, and the club will be respectful of his decision if he wishes to leave to take up a starting role elsewhere.
Kepa has played twelve times for Chelsea so far this season. The Spaniard started eleven of those games – most of them in the cup – and appeared in one as an extra-time substitute with a penalty shootout looming. He managed to keep five clean sheets during his limited minutes while maintaining a save percentage of over 80 – a stark contrast to the 57.9 per cent he produced two years ago during Lampard’s first season.
The 27-year-old’s heroics in three separate penalty shootouts have also coincided with his upturn in form – his saves have helped Chelsea reign supreme in all three – but he could well relinquish his spot to Mendy in Chelsea’s upcoming trophy clashes against Palmeiras and Liverpool this month.
