The Athletic Bilbao ace has reportedly been chosen as the man to replace Real Madrid target Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Chelsea were believed to be have made Stoke City’s Jack Butland their number one target.
But it’s now claimed by Marca that Kepa is the man heading to West London to work under new Blues boss Maurizio Sarri.
Chelsea are eager to wrap up a deal as soon as possible and are flying the 23-year-old to the capital on a private jet.
Roman Abramovich and his team are also set to eclipse Liverpool’s £65m fee for Roma’s Alisson by meeting Kepa’s 80 million euros release clause, which equates to roughly £71m in the current market.
That will make Spain’s third-choice World Cup keeper the most expensive shot-stopper of all time.
And he is set to be thrust straight into the starting XI for Chelsea’s opening game of the Premier League season away to Huddersfield on Saturday.
Kepa is one of the top-rated young goalkeepers on the continent, having come close to joining Real Madrid earlier this year.
He eventually snubbed a move to the Bernabeu before signing a new Bilbao contract, but that release clause has come back to haunt the Basque side as Chelsea look to ensure they are not left in limbo between the sticks this season.
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