Real Madrid ‘preparing Chelsea swap deal’ with sweetener offered for Kepa
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Real Madrid are reportedly prepared to offer Chelsea a part-exchange deal to sweeten a permanent agreement for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard joined the La Liga giants on loan in the summer but has made clear that he wants to extend his stay at the Bernabeu.
Chelsea were keen for Arrizabalaga to stay ahead of the 2023-24 season but he insisted on seeking a new challenge. Madrid beat European rivals Bayern Munich to a big-money temporary deal.
The 29-year-old has shone in the absence of the injured shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois, who was also snapped up from Stamford Bridge five years ago. Los Blancos have lost just once with Arrizabalaga in goal and want to make his deal permanent.
Chelsea paid £72million to sign the goalkeeper from Atletico Madrid in 2018, incidentally to replace Courtois. However, it is claimed that Madrid are only willing to spend £17.5m.
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According to the Sun, the Spanish giants will offer reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to Chelsea in an attempt to sweeten the transfer. Ukrainian Lunin will become the third-choice at Madrid when Courtois returns from a serious knee injury next summer.
Arrizabalaga is keen to stay in the Spanish capital beyond this season. He is reportedly prepared to face a battle for the No 1 shirt with Courtois.
Speaking in September, Arrizabalaga said: “It’s true that [Mauricio] Pochettino wanted me to stay and he told me that I was going to play, that he trusted me. But I thought a change would be good for me. I wanted a change.
“[Bayern Munich manager] Thomas Tuchel called me. We were close to going to Munich. I felt it was time for a change of scenery. I wanted to stay but I felt that the project was not the right one.
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“When Madrid calls you, everything changes. My signing was closed in just a few hours and a couple of calls. My intention is to stay for more than a year.”
Chelsea replaced Arrizabalaga with the £25m signing of Robert Sanchez from Brighton. Djordje Petrovic was also brought in as a back-up during the summer transfer window but the Blues are supposedly preparing to sign another goalkeeper.
The report adds that Aaron Ramsdale is a target for the west Londoners, having surprisingly lost his place as No 1 goalkeeper to David Raya this season. A couple of errors made by the Spaniard have not seen Ramsdale win back his starting role, prompting suggestions that he could depart the Emirates Stadium.
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