Kepa set for unlikely Chelsea crown as duo ready to complete transfers
Kepa Arrizabalaga is poised to become Chelsea's longest-serving player as the Blues press ahead with their plans to offload a host of fringe players.
The Spanish international, 28, became the most expensive goalkeeper in football history when he moved to west London from Athletic Bilbao back in 2018 in a £72million deal. He is currently the third longest-serving player at Stamford Bridge behind Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
However, Arrizabalaga could shoot up those rankings sooner rather than later with both Ampadu and Hudson-Odoi the subject of transfer bids this week; and with neither likely to feature prominently in the plans of new Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the duo will be free to leave the capital.
According to The Athletic, Ampadu is set to agree terms on a switch to Championship outfit Leeds United in a deal which will bank the Blues around £7m initially. Further add-ons could lead to the deal breaking the £10m barrier. The Wales international, who can play as a central defender or a defensive midfielder, joined Chelsea from Exeter City back in 2017 but has spent the last four seasons out on loan.
Chelsea are likely to land a far more substantial fee if they agree a deal to sell Hudson-Odoi, who has emerged as a target for London rivals Fulham.
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Marco Silva's side have seen their opening offer rebuffed by the Blues but are expected to return with an improved proposal in a bid to sign the 22-year-old winger, who is ready to quit Chelsea in order to pursue regular first-team football.
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Ethan Ampadu is currently Chelsea's longest-serving player (Getty Images)If both do depart in the coming weeks, then Arrizabalaga will become the club's longest-serving player - just weeks after reports claimed that Pochettino was set on bringing in Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana as his new No.1 goalkeeper.
The former Tottenham chief has since given Arrizabalaga the green light to continue in his role as the Blues' first-choice shot-stopper after the Spaniard wrestled his way back into contention last year.
It appears likely Pochettino and the Blues will seek a new No.2 to compete with Arrizabalaga for the gloves after Edouard Mendy completed a lucrative switch to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli last month.
After splurging over £500m on new signings since being acquired by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital last year, the Blues have offloaded a host of other first-team stars. Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic are just some of the names who have followed Mendy out of the door already this summer with more expected to follow suit before the start of the new season next month.
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