Andoni Iraola’s relationship with Kepa Arrizabalaga could help Bournemouth to sign the Chelsea goalkeeper on a permanent basis in the summer.
That’s [according to Estadio Deportivo](https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/futbol/fichajes/fichaje-kepa-proceso-20241206-473784.html), who report that Bournemouth have already decided to make an offer for the goalkeeper at the end of his loan deal.
Kepa joined the Cherries on loan from Chelsea in the summer after Real Madrid decided against making his loan deal last season into a permanent one.
Estadio say Bournemouth were able to convince him because of the ‘good relationship’ he had with Iraola. The pair both have a past at Athletic Club, and this worked in the Cherries’ favour.
Kepa had offers from Saudi Arabia but decided to continue playing in Europe and so moved to the South Coast, where he has only missed three games this season. One of these was against Chelsea as per the terms of his loan deal.
He’s set to return to the Blues on 30 June but is not a part of their plans and their intention to return some of the €80m they paid in 2018. A report this week from Spain stated as much, saying the summer would be ‘definitive’ and his time at Bournemouth was helping to drum up interest.
Estadio now say they ‘will present an offer’ to Chelsea when the current season ends to try and sign the goalkeeper permanently.
The relationship with Iraola is sure to be key to that, with the Basque media highlighting it on Friday and how the pair have been spotted speaking in Basque to each other.
They clearly have a good, working relationship going on and that may be what’s behind the decision by Bournemouth to make a firm offer int eh summer.