Chelsea fans have every right to be excited this summer.
The club have already secured Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz. The spending has removed any doubt about Roman Abramovich’s commitment to the Chelsea project.
The nagging frustration surrounding the club’s goalkeeper situation won’t go away, with the Blues desperate to both sell and buy a new shot-stopper.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was the club’s record transfer until the deal for Havertz was completed but that spend does not lessen the need for Chelsea to find a solution for the Spaniard. In simple terms, his Chelsea career has been a disappointment.
One of the lowest ebbs during his time at the club came during the EFL Cup final against Manchester City when he refused to be substituted. Many expected the goalkeeper would leave the club that summer, but he remained.
His performances this year have done little to suggest he has a long-term future at the club. The problem is, Chelsea cannot seem to find a buyer for Kepa.
The club paid £71.6million for the goalkeeper, and there are no clubs willing to come close to that figure.
Any hope the club had of securing a sizeable fee for Kepa diminished further in the wake of the coronavirus, with most clubs unwilling to sanction mega deals. Given he has five years remaining on his contract, it would seem a loan option is more likely.
It has also seen the potential for a long-term loan open up. The benefits of such a move are obvious.
A two-year loan back in familiar surroundings in Spain would allow Kepa to reboot his career, rebuild his confidence and put himself in the shop-window for a transfer. The player himself has indicated he will stay and fight for his place regardless of whether Chelsea sign a new goalkeeper.
The fact Sevilla have been strongly linked with a loan move for the player would be perfect for all parties.
The Spanish side are consistently in European competition and their ability to develop players has been shown time and again. The Blues will need to swallow some of his £150,000-per-week salary, but that could pay off if he is able to recapture his form and attract one of La Liga’s big hitters in Barcelona or Real Madrid.
