Chelsea eye Pau Lopez to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga
According to Spanish publication Estadio Deportivo (h/t Express), Chelsea are interested in Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
The 25-year-old moved to the Italian capital after an impressive season for Real Betis. His performances have caught the eyes of Frank Lampard. The Chelsea boss is still undecided about the fate of his current number one Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Lopez is a surprising choice considering his average season at the Stadio Olimpico. He has kept just 9 clean sheets in 34 games and has conceded 43 times this season. (h/t Transfermarkt)
This has also not put off other suitors, with the likes of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur also interested. Lopez will not come cheap, with Roma valuing him at £36million.
Champions League football could be a deciding factor in the deal. Chelsea are currently the best placed of the trio to take part in the competition.
The 25-year-old is currently out injured with a fractured wrist. Lopez spent the 2016-17 campaign on loan at Tottenham. However, he failed to make a single senior appearance.
The goalkeeping position has been problematic for Lampard since he took over last summer. Although Chelsea have the world’s most expensive shot-stopper in Kepa Arrizabalaga among their ranks, he has flattered to deceive.
Things reached such a crescendo that the Blues boss even dropped his Spanish custodian in favour of reserve keeper Willy Caballero. The Spaniard did eventually win his place back but the talk about his future refuses to go away.
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Chelsea missed out on signing Alisson Becker from Roma in 2018. The Brazilian has gone on to become arguably the best in his position in the world.
Two years on, we could be going back to Roma to once again fill the same important position.