Kepa set to get his own way after private talks with Chelsea chief Pochettino

31 October 2023 , 14:37

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Kepa set to get his own way after private talks with Chelsea chief Pochettino

Kepa Arrizabalaga could be in line for a permanent switch to Real Madrid after impressing during his loan spell with the Spanish giants.

Kepa, 29, was lured to the Bernabeu for the season back in the summer transfer window despite re-establishing himself as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper last year. The former Athletic Bilbao man was swiftly identified as a top target by Los Blancos after Thibaut Courtois - another former Blues player - sustained a serious knee injury on the eve of the new season.

Since sealing a return to Spain, Kepa has hinted that he would prefer to remain at Real Madrid on a permanent basis rather than return to Stamford Bridge - and it seems as though the Spain international could get his wish in the New Year.

A new report from The Sun claims that Real Madrid are preparing to enter negotiations with Chelsea in a bid to sign the goalkeeper for good, however, any deal would have to see the Blues take a huge hit on the £71.6million fee they paid for Kepa's services back in 2018.

While Real would be willing to pay up to £17.5m for Kepa, there are also tentative plans to offer their second-choice goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, as a makeweight.

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It remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea would accept such a proposal for Kepa. Although the shot-stopper has been vocal about his desire to stay at Real Madrid beyond this season, he is contracted to the Blues until the summer of 2025.

Join the debate! Do you think Chelsea should cash in on Kepa? Let us know here.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is keen to stay at Real Madrid on a permanent basis (Jose Manuel Alvarez)

While Kepa was eager to depart Stamford Bridge in the summer, new Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino was keen to work with him and even reached out privately in a bid to persuade him to stay in the capital.

That was revealed by Kepa himself earlier this year, while he also outlined that former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, now at Bayern Munich, also sounded him out over a potential move to Germany.

Speaking in an interview with Spanish outlet Marca back in September, he said: "It was very fast. It is true that at Chelsea, Pochettino wanted me to stay and he told me that I was going to play, that he trusted me, but I thought that a change would be good for me. I wanted a change.

"Thomas Tuchel also called me and I was close to going to Bayern Munich. Due to circumstances such as the injury, unfortunately, of a teammate, the possibility arose."

Dan Marsh