Transfer News: Kepa Arrizabalaga absent from squad for friendly amid interest from Napoli
According to journalist Adam Newson via Twitter, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga did not travel with the squad for their friendly against Charlotte for reasons unknown.
Earlier this month, the Daily Mail claimed that Serie A outfit Napoli were interested in taking Kepa on loan this summer. The 27-year-old has had to settle for the bench and cup matches ever since the arrival of Edouard Mendy from Stade Rennais in 2020.
The Spaniard signed for the Blues back in 2018 for a world record fee of £71.6 million, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in the world. After standing between the sticks week in and out for Chelsea, a series of regular mistakes and mishaps cost him his place in the team.
Napoli had offered him a chance to redeem himself and his being absent from the friendly does very little to shush the rumours about his potential move. The Spaniard managed to make only 4 appearances in the league last season, clearly showing that he is not a trusted figure by Thomas Tuchel.
Kepa made the headlines during the Carabao Cup final of 2019 when he refused to be subbed. Chelsea would go on to lose the cup to Manchester City by 4-3 on penalties. Because of him playing so less for Chelsea, he has also fallen down the pecking order in the Spain national team.
However, he now has the chance to go and regain his form. Should a move go through, it would leave Tuchel with Mendy and Marcus Bettinelli as his two senior keepers. It is very unlikely that Kepa’s position will change next season with Mendy having established himself as the first-choice keeper.
If he is sold, Chelsea’s wage bill will lighten up a bit and they could hope to recoup some of the fees they paid for him to Athletic Club. For Kepa, it would be good for him to get some playing time with hopes of making the Spanish national squad for the World Cup in November.
The Spaniard did play in Chelsea’s previous friendly against Club America. If he fails to turn up in the last friendly against Arsenal, it will add more weight to the possibility that he is not part of next season’s squad- unless, of course, he is injured.
Chelsea lost 5-3 on penalties to Charlotte at the Bank of America Stadium after the game finished 1-1 in regular time.
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We will have to wait and see what happens with Kepa. Edouard Mendy is a hurdle he just can’t seem to cross and it remains to be seen if he accepts being Chelsea’s number two any longer.