Chelsea have been told that they're making a big mistake by letting Kepa Arrizabalaga move to Arsenal.
The Spaniard showed commendable form while on loan at Bournemouth this season, racking up eight clean sheets in 31 matches as the Cherries claimed a respectable ninth-place finish in the Premier League. Despite the 30-year-old's impressive stint, manager Enzo Maresca seems poised to sanction a move for Kepa to north London, with a £5million deal said to be on the table from Arsenal.
Kepa was originally signed by Chelsea in 2018 for a record-breaking £72m fee from Athletic Bilbao, but struggled to cement his position at Stamford Bridge, eventually conceding his spot and being sent on loan to Real Madrid and subsequently Bournemouth.
With the Blues eyeing new goalkeeping options this summer, having been linked with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan as a potential successor to Robert Sanchez, they are seemingly overlooking Kepa's revival in form as he edges closer to a switch to the Gunners when the transfer window reopens next week.
And Shaun Wright-Phillips has voiced his bewilderment at the reported transfer. In conversation with Betway, the winger, who sported the Chelsea kit from 2005 to 2008, said: "I'm confused.
"I don't understand. It's like nobody's been watching Kepa this season. He's been unbelievable. He is part of the reason why Bournemouth finished where they finished.
"The defence was outstanding, but Kepa was unbelievable, as well, I thought. I assumed while the season was going on that Chelsea didn't need to buy a goalkeeper because Kepa was going back anyway, but that isn't to be the case.
Shaun Wright-Phillips smiles
Shaun Wright-Phillips has given his take on Kepa (Image: Getty Images)
"You can have as good a goalkeeper as you want, but if you're still going to make the same mistakes in defence, your goalkeeper is still going to concede. That's just the fact of the matter.
"Alisson pulls off amazing saves when he's needed. Half the time he has to pull off a save, it's not forced errors. So if Chelsea can get their defence like that, where they're not making him make unnecessary saves he shouldn't have to make, then I think Kepa is your man to keep. You don't need to forage around.
"Most managers now are looking for goalkeepers that are good with their feet. I think Kepa's alright with his feet, but he might not be at the level they want him to be. But for me, it's a real strange one."
Kepa Arrizabalaga kicks the ball ahead of Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne
The shot stopper impressed at Bournemouth (Image: AP)
Despite helping Chelsea secure a fourth-place Premier League finish and the Europa Conference League, Sanchez's inconsistency has proved problematic at the Bridge. And despite having Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders and Djorde Petrovic also on their roster, the Blues appear to be in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer.
A potential move for Maignan collapsed earlier this week amid reports that Chelsea couldn't agree with AC Milan's asking price for the 29-year-old, who only has a year remaining on his current deal. In contrast, Mikel Arteta appears poised to capitalise on this situation as he searches for a deputy for first-choice keeper David Raya.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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