Chelsea have been urged to sell Kepa Arrizabalaga in the summer transfer window after he was criticised for his performance in the 2-2 draw against Everton before the international break. The Blues signed the Spanish goalkeeper in a £72million deal from Athletic Bilbao back in 2018, but his career at Stamford Bridge has not quite gone to plan.
Since Graham Potter was appointed, Kepa has replaced Edouard Mendy as Chelsea's No.1 goalkeeper with the 31-year-old having only made a five appearances after losing his place to the Spaniard. Kepa has retained the position after being a regular prior to Mendy's arrival in 2020 and has kept 11 clean sheets in 26 games.
Potter may prefer Kepa over Mendy in his starting XI, but there remain concerns about the Spaniard's ability with Chelsea being rumoured to be interested in signing a new first choice goalkeeper this summer. Brentford's David Raya and Inter Milan's Andre Onana have both been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge ahead of next season.
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Liverpool and Manchester City have shown that by signing a world-class goalkeeper it can lead to consistent success with Alisson and Ederson both being considered to be two of the best shot-stoppers in Europe. When he first took charge at Chelsea, Potter insisted that he did not have plans for a first-choice goalkeeper and would instead let Kepa and Mendy battle it out, but neither have been convincing this season which may lead to a new goalkeeper being signed this summer.
Following the 2-2 draw against Everton last weekend, former Premier League keeper Ben Foster criticised Kepa for his role in Ellis Simms' late equaliser at Stamford Bridge. Foster said on his YouTube channel: “Let’s talk about Everton’s equaliser because I think Kepa should save it - a top goalkeeper saves that.
“This is a big moment, we’re in injury-time so if he saves that, it’s 2-1, three points, boom, everyone is happy. These are the fine margins but I think a top goalie has to save that.
“It’s a slightly awkward one so I’ve got a bit of sympathy but you need to make those big saves - he fell a little bit short. I don’t think Kepa is the right guy for it, full stop.
"I don’t think he’s the long-term solution. I think at the end of the season either Mendy will get fit and get back in the team or they will need to go into the market and sign somebody.
"They spent £70million on Kepa by the way and £25million on Mendy. That’s almost £100million on goalkeepers.”
Kepa almost left Chelsea last summer with a move to Italy on the cards, but the deal collapsed late on, football.london understands. Things are looking very different at Stamford Bridge for the Spanish shot-stopper, but there are still conversations going on behind the scenes at the club over signing a new goalkeeper, so it might be neither of Kepa or Mendy that will be Potter's first-choice next season.
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