‘It’s likely’: Journalist expects £150,000-a-week player to leave Chelsea permanently after loan

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Kepa Arrizabalaga is likely to leave Chelsea permanently after his loan at Real Madrid.

That is according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Real Madrid on loan during the summer transfer window and, while there is no guarantee that the Spanish club will end up buying the goalkeeper, Jacobs can still see him departing Chelsea for good. On his future, the journalist told GiveMeSport: “I do think it’s likely that Kepa will leave, simply because Chelsea have brought in another goalkeeper.

“They’ve got Gabriel Slonina, who will have developed in 12 months’ time even further, and Robert Sanchez is seen as the No.1 at the football club.”

Jacobs later added: “If he does return, he won’t be the No.1 goalkeeper at the football club, which means that coming back will still require, in likelihood, a solution for him to leave.”

Back in June, Sky Sports reported that Mauricio Pochettino had planned to go into the new season with Kepa as his No.1.

But with the arrival of Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion and the opportunity to play for Real Madrid presenting itself after Thibaut Courtois’ injury, it was clearly difficult for the 28-year-old to turn down a move back to Spain.

Chelsea should sell Kepa Arrizabalaga

If they can, then Chelsea should definitely move Kepa on next summer.

He obviously has not had the best time at Stamford Bridge, losing his starting spot to Edouard Mendy back in the 2020/21 season before winning it back last term, while it is clear that the £150,000-a-week (Spotrac) Spain international does not want to come back to west London.

“Will I stay after the loan? Hopefully,” Kepa was quoted as saying by BBC Sport following his switch to Real Madrid.

Is Sanchez good enough to be Chelsea’s No.1 in the long run? That remains to be seen, but a couple of things that are more obvious are Kepa’s desire to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu and Chelsea’s doubts about him, making a permanent transfer the best outcome for everyone here.