CHELSEA CLOSE IN ON RECORD TRANSFER FOR ARRIZABALAGA
Release clause activated for Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper who is set to be Courtois replacement
Chelsea appear to be poised to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper, after Athletic Bilbao announced his buyout clause had been met.
The Basque club yesterday confirmed the 23-year-old’s release clause of €80 million (Dh340.6m) was activated and his contract terminated, although there was no mention of Chelsea in the annoucement made by the club.
The fee is a world record for a goalkeeper, surpassing the £65m (Dh307.4m) paid last month by Liverpool to Roma for Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Chelsea have reportedly made Kepa their number one target to replace wantaway Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has been linked with a move to European champions Real Madrid.
A statement on Athletic’s official website read: “The Professional Football League confirmed to us that the player, Kepa Arrizabalaga, has met the requirements for the valid unilateral termination of the work contract that linked him to Athletic Club.
“The amount of the compensation established in the contract has been deposited.
“Athletic thanks the player for his contribution during the time he has remained in our club.”
Courtois has been absent from training this week ahead of today’s closure of the transfer window for Premier League clubs, which shuts officially at 8pm UAE time.
The 26-year-old, named the best goalkeeper at the World Cup as Belgium finished third, has one year remaining on his contract.
Maurizio Sarri, Chelsea’s manager, has so far refused to be drawn on Courtois’s apparent refusal to return to his employer following the summer break.
Following his side’s final pre-season game on Tuesday night against Lyon, he said: “I don’t know in this moment. I want to speak with my club and then we will decide about it.”
When pressed on Arrizabalaga, Sarri added: “I saw him one year ago. My first impression was that he is a very good goalkeeper – very young, but very, very good.”
With the European transfer window not shutting until August 31, there is plenty of time for a deal to be completed for Courtois to head to Spain. The vital thing for Chelsea was having a replacement, which they appear to have in the shape of Arrizabalaga.
Madrid’s new manager Julen Lopetegui refused to comment on Courtois after his side’s friendly win over Roma in New Jersey on Tuesday, insisting that Keylor Navas remains his number one.
Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been linked with a move in the opposite direction. Marca reported Kovacic has travelled to London last night for a medical.
Meanwhile, Sarri also revealed he expects Eden Hazard to remain at Stamford Bridge, after the Belgium international made his first appearance since the World Cup.
Hazard, whose future has been in doubt all summer, was given a rapturous reception by Chelsea fans during their side’s penalty shootout win against Lyon, and Sarri said he had “no problem” with the midfielder.
Sarri added: “We have spoken two or three times in the last two days. Hazard’s problem is not present now.”