Chelsea wanted to spend big on a new goalkeeper this summer – although their failure to sell Kepa Arrizabalaga ruined the chances of any deal happening.
That is according to the Guardian.
So, what is the situation involving Kepa Arrizabalaga and Chelsea? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, Chelsea managed to sell Edouard Mendy for a respectable £16m fee earlier this summer, as the Senegal international moved to Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
However – by the sounds of it – Chelsea wanted to get rid of Kepa as well, but simply could not find a buyer.
The Guardian believe Chelsea earmarked the No.1 spot as a position which needed significant investment this summer, but that was not possible unless the £71m glovesman left Stamford Bridge.
Kepa earns a lofty salary in the region of £147,000-a-week, and the Blues simply couldn’t justify spending huge money on another goalkeeper when the Spaniard would be earning a No.1’s wage to sit on the bench.
The Guardian mention specific names in regards to who Chelsea wanted.
Andre Onana – who has since left Inter Milan for Manchester United in a £47.2m deal – was a target for Mauricio Pochettino, while AC Milan glovesman Mike Maignan was another option on the shortlist.
Kepa deal comes back to bite Chelsea as Onana and Maignan slip away
At the time, it seemed bizarre for Chelsea to spend a world-record £71m on Kepa, especially as he had hardly set the world alight at Athletic Bilbao.
Ever since that deal was finalised in August 2018, the 28-year-old has made little improvement, and he is now acting as a financial burden on Chelsea as the Blues try to find an upgrade.
As a result, Pochettino is effectively stuck with Kepa, and has now resorted to signing a less exciting, but far more affordable option than Onana and Maignan in Robert Sanchez.
A £25m deal has been agreed with Brighton – according to The Times – with the Spaniard now expected to undergo a medical.
Will Sanchez replace Kepa straight away, or merely act as a backup option? Only time will tell…
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