- Bournemouth are keen to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
- It was previously reported that he was training separately from the rest of the team.
- LISTEN NOW: It’s all just beginning!Available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Bournemouth are reportedly keen to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arizzabalaga on a loan deal for the 2024-25 season.
The Spaniard has not been included in Enzo Maresca’s plans after it was previously revealed he is training separately from the Blues’ first-team stars.
Kepa, who spent last season on loan at reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid, has attracted interest from several clubs, including Saudi Arabian sides.
Chelsea were keen to offload the 29-year-old goalkeeper, with the Spaniard emerging as a top target for the Cherries, ahead of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale, according to sources. The athletic.
However, Kepa’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, meaning he would need to renew his contract before completing the transfer.
Bournemouth are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arizzabalaga on loan
The Spaniard is among the players forced to train separately from the Blues’ first-team stars
This development comes after Blues head coach Enzo Maresca previously expressed his frustration with the sheer size of Chelsea’s squad.
The Italian coach admitted that having so many players in the current squad could be a problem: “At the moment, if I start to think that I have 43 players, it’s not good, I have 28 training with me.”
The situation has resulted in several players, including Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arizzabalaga, being forced to train separately from the rest of the squad while their club try to find a suitable solution for all parties.
According to The Athletic, other teams are also considering signing Arrizabalaga, including Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, who were interested in the player in June.
Throughout his career at Chelsea, the Spaniard played 163 games and conceded 175 goals.
He joined the Blues from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for £72m, becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in football history.
The Spaniard joined Chelsea from his boyhood club Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for £72m, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in football history.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper won the Champions League and La Liga during his one-year loan spell at Real Madrid last season.
Since returning from his year-long loan in the Spanish capital, it has been clear that the goalkeeper’s future lies away from Stamford Bridge.
Despite winning the Champions League and La Liga, Kepa lost his place in the team in the second half of the season, with Andrii Lunin becoming a regular starter.
At the start of his loan spell, the Spaniard expressed his desire to stay permanently at Los Blancos, saying: “I said it then and I still hope to stay.”
