Arteta needs a goalkeeperArteta needs a goalkeeper
Arteta needs a goalkeeper | Getty Images
Arsenal have been informed how much they will have to pay to land a Premier League goalkeeper.
Arsenal have been told how much they need to pay to sign a new back-up goalkeeper from within the Premier League. The Gunners are in need of new keeper after deciding not to sign Neto permanently after his season-long loan spell from AFC Bournemouth.
The Gunners were being linked with a move for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, with the club having tried to sign the promising Spaniard last summer. But that deal did not come off, with Garcia deciding to stay with Espanyol, going on to be arguably the best goalkeeper in La Liga during the season just gone.
Arsenal were tipped to circle back but they were beaten to it by Barcelona, who moved quickly to get the deal done after the season. Barca found themselves in need of a goalkeeper during the season just gone when Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was ruled out with injury, and former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczęsny was signed as an emergency signing.
That deal worked out well, and it now looks like Szczesny will stay, but he will surely be the third choice behind Ten Stegen and Garcia.
As for Arsenal, their search goes on, and reports have claimed that their search has led to Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The once £71.6million signing has not worked out at Stamford Bridge, and in recent years, he has been spending time out on loan.
The Spain international spent last season on loan with AFC Bournemouth after a loan spell with Real Madrid before that, and he is now returning to Chelsea with just a year remaining on his contract. The Blues have enough goalkeepers on their boos for seven or eight teams, so Kepa won’t find a home back at Stamford Bridge, and his contract situation means a cheap sale is now likely.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are still keen on the idea of having an all-Spanish goalkeeping room, and they have now been told how much they will have to pay for Kepa.
Romano has tweeted: “Arsenal are informed on £5m release clause for Kepa as option to be David Raya’s backup. Initial talks took place to be informed on deal conditions, as Sky UK reports.”
Why Kepa will be a smart signing
While Kepa has not lived up to expectation at Chelsea, he is still a very competent goalkeeper and certainly one that can operate well in the number two role, still possessing plenty of experience at the top level and in Europe. Ultimately, Arteta wants a goalkeeper who can rise to the task of playing when needed, but he does not want someone who will displace David Raya.
Speaking back in January to the Bournemouth website about his initial Chelsea move, Kepa said: “I mean seven years, that’s long time! At that time, I didn’t know really know how the Premier league was. You watch it in Spain but you don’t know.
“You have been watching La Liga and it’s a very different style of play and at the beginning it was very new, new stadiums, new coaches, players, I have good memories about that! It has not been easy to get everything in the right place but I have good memories and from that a lot of things change. Now I am older, I’m more mature and looking back it was a good time. I have recently had twins and I’m now in a different stage of my life, I have learned a lot for sure.”
Unfortunately for Kepa, his early performances for Chelsea combined with his huge fee mean it has been tough to shake off the reputation of being a flop, and we have seen that so many times in the Premier League when big money is spent on a player. But for what Arteta wants, which is a non-disruptive player who is going to get his head down and work, Kepa fits the bill.
The Spaniard made 31 league appearances in the season just gone and he only conceded 39 goals. keeping eight clean sheets. That’s a keeper in good form and one working hard to erase the reputation that continues to follow him. For £5m, Arsenal can get themselves a steal.
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