Chelsea will be put under immediate pressure next season when Mauricio Pochettino takes to the dugout for his first game. Not only is his opening fixture against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, it could see a difference of 10 players from the 20-man squad from the final day of the 2022/23 season.
After a major clearout of players, one position that may not change at all is in goal. Whereas defenders, midfielder and attackers are all leaving SW6 on a near daily basis, the goalkeeping spot is no longer one that looks set for a big revamp.
Whereas at the end of last season it appeared that both Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy might be moving on, after three weeks of the summer window it is only the latter that has been sold. Kepa, on the other hand, is seemingly being trusted for another season.
He is coming off the back of his best ever personal year in blue but that coincided with a disaster for the team. In five years at Chelsea he has only been first choice for one campaign that has lead to qualification for the Champions League.
It is a worrying correlation for a player that cost £72million to sign from Athletic Bilbao and also one that poses big questions for Pochettino and his goalkeeping coach, Toni Jimenez. The pair worked wonders to help elevate Hugo Lloris to world class levels at Tottenham and have set about attempting the same here.
With Chelsea's budget largely focusing on recruits in midfield and striker, they are now resting more hope in Kepa rather than an expensive new option. football.london understands that Mike Maignan had been identified as a target but his contract and price with AC Milan proved tough to get around.
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Valencia's Giorgi Mamardashvili is another being monitored and could yet be pursued as a player to challenge and rival Kepa rather than takeover directly. The main option that has now bypassed the club is Andre Onana.
After his Champions League exploits with Inter, the Ghana shot-stopper has risen from career darkness back into prominence. He is someone that was part of discussions between Chelsea and Inter last month when Romelu Lukaku and Kalidou Koulibaly deals were discussed alongside Lautaro Martinez.
With a price of over £50million, the deal was left alone by Chelsea and now Manchester United have steamed in to take him off the market. According to Fabrizio Romano, a deal is extremely close and could be finalised next week, it will also cost just £47million after an initial offer of £39million was sent back.
Given United and Chelsea are fishing in the same pond this summer, alongside seeking Moises Caicedo and Harry Kane, to see a rival make an incoming previously sought after is quite the blow and adds pressure to Pochettino, Kepa and Chelsea.
With the already controversial sting of selling Mason Mount to Old Trafford, watching Onana in red next year will be a visible test of just how good the summer business has been. It also raises the bar as to the expectations placed on Kepa and the goalkeeping department at Cobham.
