Lazio Keen on Chelsea Goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga

Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga. Photo by Rafal Oleksiewicz/PressFocus/REX/Shutterstock (8881703bh)

Chelsea is finally finding some success in their attempts to offload Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. According to Italian media outlet Corriere Dello Sport, Seria A side Lazio is keen on Kepa and are considering making a move for the player in the near future.

Lazio is on the market for a goalkeeper because their current main option, Thomas Strakosha, will be out of contract in the summer of 2022. They view Kepa as an ideal replacement, especially since their manager Maurizio Sarri already worked with the player while coaching Chelsea in 2018-2019.

The Italian club is facing some obstacles in working out a transfer for Kepa. They would want to initially bring the 27-year-old on a loan while Chelsea is believed to be interested only in a permanent transfer. Also, the player’s current salary is north of $200,000 weekly, and it is hard to believe he would consider a huge discount from this number.

Chelsea paid $92 million to acquire Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018 from Athletic Bilbao, making him the world’s most expensive goalkeeper. The club was convinced that Kepa would keep them from having problems at the position for years to come, but it’s safe to say things didn’t work out as planned. The Spaniard struggled in Premier League from the very beginning and kept his starting job for just two seasons before being replaced by Edouard Mendy.

Kepa is now mostly used as a cup goalkeeper, having made just eight Premier League appearances in the last 12 months.

Jasmin can write about almost everything expect about himself. All you need to know is that he likes music, Nutella stuffed pancakes and sleeping till noon on Sundays.