Chelsea identify three replacements for Kepa Arrizabalaga
The writing on the wall appears clear on Kepa Arrizabalaga’s future at Chelsea.
The Spaniard was left out of the crucial clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge. Willy Caballero kept a clean sheet as Chelsea won 2-0.
Alarmingly for Kepa, this is the second time that Frank Lampard has gone with Caballero in a must-win game. He did the same in the FA Cup semifinals against Manchester United. It would appear that the manager’s faith in his number one is thin.
According to the Sun, Kepa is willing to leave the club and is ready to take a massive pay cut to make it happen.
The 25-year-old earns £150,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge. He is prepared to take far lesser and move to either Atletico Madrid or Sevilla, who are both interested.
Kepa would ideally like to keep his existing terms but is not averse to taking a pay cut if a project excites him.
Chelsea, for their part, have identified three replacements. Atletico Madrid ace Jan Oblak is the preferred choice. However, it would take another world-record fee to bring him to the bridge.
Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is another option provided Ole Gunnar Solskjaer chooses to back David De Gea.
The other option on the list is Burnley custodian Nick Pope. The Englishman came to within a whisker of winning the Golden Glove and has shown he can perform when called upon.
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Kepa has conceded just two goals lesser than former Chelsea goalkeeper Dimitri Kharin, who holds the unenviable record of having let in the most goals for Chelsea over the course of a Premier League season.
The Russian conceded 48 goals in 40 games in the 93/94 season, while Kepa has conceded 46 in just 33 games.