Chelsea could offer record signing in part exchange for Champions League-winning hero
According to a report from TBR Football, Chelsea are looking to sign Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin this summer, facing competition in the Premier League from the likes of Arsenal and Man City, and could offer Kepa Arrizabalaga in return.
The 25-year-old, having been with Los Blancos since 2018, earned household recognition last season on the back of his performances between the sticks, playing a key role in his side winning La Liga as well as the Champions League.
To sweeten the deal and gain an edge over their competitors, Chelsea are willing to let Kepa go the other way in exchange for the Ukraine international.
The out-of-favour Spaniard, still the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of the sport, was taken on a season-long loan by Real Madrid last season after their first-choice goalie, Thibaut Courtois, suffered an injury that kept him out for most of the season. In November last year, Kepa himself sustained an injury that put him out for nearly a month, giving Lunin the chance to make a name for himself.
Lunin’s current contract at Real Madrid, fetching him approximately €2.81 million per year, is set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, and with Carlo Ancelotti ready to stick with Courtois, as evident from his preferences for the Champions League final, Real Madrid have only this summer to cash in on Lunin, who is likely to push for a move to become a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere.
Kepa’s Chelsea contract, on the other hand, fetching him £7.8 million per year, is also entering its final 12 months, and it looks unlikely that either side would want to continue with the other.
Chelsea clearly have issues in the goalkeeping department, as their chopping and changing of managers has seen different goalkeepers take up the first-choice role over the past two seasons.
Kepa was clearly out of favour with Mauricio Pochettino. Given he is clearly liked by Real Madrid, and with Lunin wanting a first-choice goalkeeping role that Chelsea could offer him, this looks like a move that could work out for Chelsea, Kepa, and Lunin.
Of course, Kepa could end up butting heads over at Real Madrid with Courtois for the role, but that won’t be Chelsea’s problem. They took Kepa off Real Madrid’s clasping hands six years ago and saved the Spanish champions a fair amount of money; it’s about time they cut their losses.
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