Chelsea no.1 Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to snub Bayern Munich in order to join Real Madrid, it has emerged, with both European giants in search of a new shot-stopper this summer.
The German Champions have already missed out on David Raya, who is set to join Arsenal. They had set their sights on Kepa and were in discussions over a loan move that would contain an option to buy the player in 12 months time.
However, Real Madrid have swooped, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side in desperate need of a new goalkeeper following the news that Thibaut Courtois had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury earlier in the week that leaves him unlikely to feature for much of the upcoming campaign.
As per German reporter Florian Plettenburg, ‘‘Kepa is close to reject FC Bayern as there was no feeling for the club that he wanted to join them’, which will leave him free to join Los Blancos and potentially make a case to regain the Spanish no.1 shirt.
The move will likely leave Chelsea on the hunt for another shot-stopper this transfer window, though at present they are focusing their attentions on central midfield and right wing. As it stands, though they signed Robert Sanchez from Brighton for a fee of £25m, Marcus Bettinelli is their only other senior goalkeeper after Edouard Mendy joined Al-Ahli earlier in the transfer window.
As it stands, they are closing in on deals for Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, while they are also hopeful of progressing a deal for exciting Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who has a £35m release clause in his contract.
