Chelsea have agreed a fee for Athletic Bilbao keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
The West London club will break the world record transfer for a goalkeeper, paying an extraordinary £71 million.
Sky sources: Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa for £71.6m. #SSN
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 7, 2018
I was very wary of this earlier because of the money involved but Chelsea have agreed to pay a world record £71m to sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Full story on @TeleFootball #cfc
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 7, 2018
Chelsea’s current first choice goalie Thibaut Courtois is currently trying to force a move to Real Madrid, having been failing to show up for training, and eventually being spotted in a Spanish supermarket.
That means the race is on for them to find a replacement before the transfer window shuts on Thursday, and they appear to have met Kepa’s buyout clause.
Spanish sources say the 23-year-old is due to arrive in London on Wednesday morning.
If Courtois does go to Real, the deal could be somewhat sweetened by Mateo Kovačić heading the other way on loan.
Of course, the current most expensive transfer fee for a gaolkeeper is the €75m (£66.8m) that Liverpool paid Roma for Alisson earlier this summer.
