Chelsea’s desperation to land a new goalkeeper was evident in the final days of the summer transfer window in England, and some pundits and fans have criticised the £71.2 million they paid out for Kepa Arrizabalaga. But respected journalist Duncan Castles reveals the Blues could have paid even more for another shot stopper.
Jan Oblak rejected €100m move from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea before Kepa Arrizabalaga’s record transfer. #CFC #ATLETI #AthleticClub #ESP #SVNhttps://t.co/qNmmjACrh3 pic.twitter.com/wJwixDwwdJ
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) August 12, 2018
Having been told that Thibaut Courtois would no longer be a goalkeeper at the club this season, Chelsea pressed the panic button. The Blues chiefs began looking eagerly for a new goalkeeper and their search was mainly in Spain. La Liga has produced brilliant goalkeepers in recent times and getting another rising superstar from the Spanish top flight was a step in the right direction but it came at a hefty fee.
Chelsea were forced to trigger Kepa’s release clause to make him the most expensive goalkeeper on the planet since football began, but Castles in his report for the Times reveals Chelsea offered Atletico Madrid £89.4 million to sign Jan Oblak, but the player rejected the move and decided to remain with Diego Simeone’s side.
Oblak, has become of the world’s best goalkeepers in recent seasons and has been named in the La Liga team of the season two times in the last three years.
