- Bournemouth reportedly keen to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
- It was previously reported that he was training separately from the rest of the team
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Bournemouth are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arizzabalaga for the 2024-25 season.
The Spaniard was not included in Enzo Maresca’s plans after it was previously revealed he was training separately from the Blues’ first-team stars.
Kepa, who spent last season on loan at LaLiga title holders Real Madrid, is attracting interest from several clubs, including Saudi Arabia.
Chelsea were set to sell the 29-year-old goalkeeper, with the Spaniard emerging as a top target for the Cherries ahead of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale, according to reports The Athletics.
However, Kepa’s contract expires at the end of the current season, meaning he will need to extend his deal before the transfer can be completed.
Bournemouth are reportedly interested in renting Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arizzabalaga
The Spaniard is one of the players forced to train separately from the Blues’ first-team stars
The development comes after Blues head coach Enzo Maresca previously expressed his frustration over Chelsea’s oversized squad.
The Italian manager admitted that having so many players in the current squad could be a problem: ‘At the moment it is not good if I think I have 43 players because I have 28 training with me’.
The situation has seen several players, such as Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arizzabalaga, reportedly forced to train separately from the rest of the squad as their club attempt to find a suitable way out for all parties.
According to The Athletic, other teams are also considering signing Arrizabalaga, including Saudi Arabian team Al-Ittihad, who were interested in the player back in June.
During his career at Chelsea, the Spaniard played 163 games and conceded 175 goals.
In 2018, he joined the Blues from Athletic Bilbao for £72million, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in football history.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper won the Champions League and La Liga during his one-year loan spell at Real Madrid last season
Since returning from a one-year loan spell in the Spanish capital, it was clear that the goalkeeper’s future did not lie at Stamford Bridge.
Despite winning the Champions League and La Liga, Kepa lost his place in the team in the second half of the season, with Andrii Lunin becoming a regular starter.
At the start of his loan, the Spaniard indicated he wanted to stay at Los Blancos permanently, saying: ‘I said it then and I still hope to stay.’
