The Athletic’s transfer report today brings us all up to date with what’s going on across the Premier League, and there’s some really good Chelsea stuff in there.
With the Euros having concluded, we’re expecting things to pick up in terms of sales as well as incoming deals, and one of the biggest prizes this summer will be the departure of Kepa Arrizabalaga after 6 years at the club.
His contract has finally reached the point where we’re happy to let him go almost for free, and it seems we’ve found a team willing to offer him enough wages to persuade him to go.
“Kepa Arrizabalaga is in talks with Al Ittihad, who have had an initial offer turned down. Talks continue with the Saudi club, and others, as a permanent departure for the 29-year-old goalkeeper edges closer,” writes Adam Leventhal.
A major step into the future
After years of speculative rumours which led nowhere, we’ve finally reached the stage where Kepa is actually being reported as “in talks” with someone over a move. That seems minor, but it’s a huge step forward. His wages and transfer fee have made it impossible to shift him for all these years, and finally getting him off the books will feel like a huge millstone removed from the neck of the club.
After Kepa, then maybe fellow millstone Romelu Lukaku? That might be an even harder one to pull off.
We’re not yet sure who the “other clubs” mentioned by the Athletic are, but if their interest is serious we’re sure more will come to light soon. The Al Ittihad links have been around for a while now, mentioned in a few places, and we’re increasingly convinced that a deal could happen, now that the Saudi League has relaxed its rules about foreign goalkeepers.
a most amazing career, courtesy of Chelsea’s incompetence: multimillionaire by sitting on a bench for 6 years.
Osimhen and costa