Since the signing of Edouard Mendy in 2020, Kepa Arrizabalaga has had to make do with being Chelsea's second choice between the sticks. Kepa's up and down career at Stamford Bridge since completing his record £71.6 million was cemented to be limited in minutes from that moment and has continued in that fashion under Thomas Tuchel despite taking his opportunity when Mendy was at the African Cup of Nations.
The 27-year-old featured 15 times in 2021/22, recording eight clean sheets in those games and was the hero in several penalty shootouts over the course of the season. Kepa has become the perfect backup goalkeeper in many respects, but it is not a role befitting his seven-year deal and £190,000 per week wage.
Indeed, while the goalkeeper has some affection for Chelsea, the former Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper understandably wants to play more frequently. With a World Cup later this year, that may be a bigger priority than usual.
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Earlier in 2022, Kepa said: "Right now, I am a Chelsea player, but what I am clear about is that I want to play more because I come from a year or two where, when I have played, I have had a great performance.
"For that reason, because of that good performance I had, the feeling is that I want more. I want to play more. I am at Chelsea, and I want to succeed here. And if it wasn't possible, we would analyse other different things because my clear objective is to play.
"I am not desperate. In the end, I'm at a great club. I'll talk to the coach, and we'll decide, but with the clear message that I want to play more."
The terms of Kepa's contract have long been prohibitive to any kind of deal for his departure, but reports suggest that a move to Napoli could be on the cards this summer. Chelsea would still have to provide a large portion of the Spaniard's salary to facilitate the loan.
It's a move that could make sense in the long term in asserting Kepa's value if he can aid Napoli's title challenge in Serie A, but that could pose a problem at the club this season. Chelsea already have a number of transfers they need to complete, first and foremost perhaps a central defender, and losing a member of their goalkeeping cohort see another required.
The Blues are set to complete a deal for Chicago Fire star Gabriel Slonina. The 18-year-old MLS star has played 23 times and kept ten clean sheets this season but would be set to stay in Illinois for the rest of the year following any transfer.
Marcus Bettinelli has been the Blues' third option and may have the capability to step up, but summer addition Eddie Beach is set to be involved with the club's development squad this summer. Sami Tlemcani, who signed a new Chelsea deal until 2025 in recent days, could provide competition for Beach, having played on loan at Merstham in the latter stages of last season.
With Jamie Cumming, Lucas Bergstrom, Ethan Wady, Nathan Baxter and Prince Adegoke all being part of the loan army this term, a new signing could be unavoidable to ensure Chelsea have depth in the position for the first team squad.
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