It looks like Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga is the man tasked with replacing the outgoing Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea, with the Blues reportedly set to make the young stopper the most expensive goalkeeper in the world.
Courtois has failed to turn up to training for the second time in two days amid rumours the Belgian is trying to force a move to Real Madrid in order to be closer to his two children, who live with his former partner in Madrid. This has led Maurizio Sarri to intensify the pursuit for a replacement and with just two days before the close of the transfer window, it looks like he is going to splash the cash in order to get his man.
Kepa's release clause has been set at a eye-watering €80 million, but it appears as if Chelsea are prepared to fork out for the 23-year-old Spaniard as they look to fill their number one position before the close of the transfer window on Thursday.
Matt Law of the Telegraph writes that once Chelsea made their willingness to bay Bilbao's release clause the young stopper boarded a flight to Madrid in order to take another flight to England in order to complete the transfer.
Should the deal go through Kepa would become the most expensive goalkeeper in the world, eclipsing the £66.8 million fee paid by Liverpool to Roma in order to secure the signing of Brazil number one Alisson Becker.
I was very wary of this earlier because of the money involved but Chelsea have agreed to pay a world record £71m to sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Full story on @TeleFootball #cfc
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 7, 2018
Kepa was a part of the Spain team that made the knockout round of the World Cup this summer, but the goalkeeper didn't make any appearances in Russia as his side were knocked out of the competition on penalties against Russia.
Kepa has made 53 senior appearances for Athletic Bilbao and kept seven clean sheets last season as his side came 16th in La Liga.
Some of Kepa's fee will be offset by the potential sale of Courtois to Madrid, with £35 million believed to be enough to prise the Belgian from Stamford Bridge.
