Price is right to catch Kepa
CHELSEA are poised to complete the world-record signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga after Athletic Bilbao announced the goalkeeper’s buyout clause has been met.
The 23-year-old was due to undergo a medical after the £72million fee – the highest ever for a goalkeeper – was deposited yesterday morning.
The deal surpasses the £67m paid by Liverpool to Roma for Brazil goalkeeper Alisson and comes as Chelsea last night agreed to sell Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid for £35m. The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. Courtois has been absent from training all week.
Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic will move in the opposite direction on a season-long loan deal.
That is likely to mark the end of the summer’s incomings at Stamford Bridge, although some members of Maurizio Sarri’s squad could leave.
Tiemoue Bakayoko is a loan target for AC Milan, while fellow midfielder Danny Drinkwater is wanted on loan by a number of Premier League clubs.
Olivier Giroud, though, has pledged his future to Chelsea despite interest from Marseille.
The former Arsenal striker and World Cup winner insisted he never wanted to leave Chelsea after joining on an 18-month deal in January and playing a crucial part in their FA Cup triumph last season.
He said: “I was never interested. I’m happy here at Chelsea. I just arrived a few months ago and am just starting to settle well.
“I still have one year to go with Chelsea plus maybe another one. I’m going to discuss that with the club at the right time. There is no rush. I just need to prepare well and be ready as soon as possible for the team.” AN INTRIGUING Premier League season kicks off at Old Trafford tomorrow night with so many questions to be answered.
Can Manchester City become the first club to win back-to-back titles since their neighbours Manchester United in 2009? Can Jose Mourinho overcome his pre-season frustrations at United and close the 19-point gap on last season’s runaway champions? How will Arsenal, now under the command of Unai Emery, cope in their first season for 23 years without Arsene Wenger at the helm? Chelsea, too, have yet another new manager in season. There is a possibility the same will apply to Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez – if the financial backing he wants to strengthen his team is not forthcoming. Benitez worked miracles to steer the Magpies into mid-table safety last season and will be frustrated if he is not given the chance to build on that.
GOLDEN BOOT
MO SALAH surely cannot repeat his remarkable 44-goal haul in all competitions, but with Liverpool improving their squad, the Egyptian, left, will still expect to exceed 30. Harry Kane was denied a hattrick of Golden Boots by Salah and the England skipper will be up there again. As will Sergio Aguero, who could be even more deadly thanks to surgery