Kepa eye out for gloveman to play again
KEPA Arrizabalaga could fight his way back into the Chelsea team says boss Frank Lampard.
The Londoners have just shelled out £22m for Edouard Mendy from Lille and No2 Willy Caballero played against West Brom at the weekend.
That wasn’t the best of decisions by Lamps as the Baggies smashed three past the veteran gloveman while Kepa watched on.
And it seems Mendy isn’t an automatic first choice at the Bridge. Either that or Lamps is trying to recoup at least some of the huge £71m they paid for Kepa just two years ago.
Lampard said: “I certainly won’t go to the point that he has played his last game for Chelsea.
“I think it has been a difficult time for Kepa, that has been well documented, I know it and he knows it, but we should certainly not jump to that conclusion.
“Also I think, which I have felt quite strongly about in the last week, is also understanding Kepa is a young man and the spotlight on him, I think, has become slightly unfair.
“I have to protect him because I know he is a good lad and playing with absolute professionalism and intent to do the best that he can, as all the squad have to.”
There could be more comings and going at the Bridge before the transfer window closes on October 5. Chelsea have already been one of the busier sides and Lampard is looking to offload some of his fringe players who have no future at the club.
One of those is Victor Moses who isn’t even in the first-team bubble any more.
Lampard is looking to move the Nigeria international winger on in the next few days.
He said: “At the moment Victor isn’t in that squad position with us.
“We have a bubble at the training ground with the first-team squad, which Victor hasn’t been part of.
“I know Victor well and we will see how that develops over the next week.”
Moses spent much of last season at Inter Milan with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
He was a regular as they finished second in Serie A and could return to Italy.