Chelsea ‘keeper lined up for move to French side to end Blues nightmare
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Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga could be on his way to France as he looks to end his Stamford Bridge nightmare.
As per French outlet FootMercato, Ligue 1 side Nice are considering making an attempt to sign the Spaniard on a loan deal, just four years after he joined the Blues for a fee of £71.6 million – a world record for a goalkeeper.
The French side’s number one from last season, Walter Benitez, has joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and they must now search for his replacement.
Kepa’s first season in England was relatively successful, as he kept 23 clean sheets in 54 matches across all competitions, but his career has dwindled since.
Kepa missed the decisive penalty in the Carabao Cup final shoot out
A string of mistakes across the 2019/20 season caused Chelsea to sign Edouard Mendy in 2020, and Kepa has since started just ten league games for the Blues.
The report claims that the 27-year-old could be handed a lifeline, though, as Nice are willing to take the player on a season-long loan deal.
The player is keen to secure regular first team football in a bid to cement his place in the Spain squad ahead of this winter’s World Cup.
If the Spanish international were to depart, Chelsea would likely look to source a replacement for the ‘keeper, with Marcus Bettinelli their only other senior goalkeeper at present.