Chelsea are poised to smash the world transfer record for a goalkeeper to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga.
And their stunning £71.5m move is set to pave the way for Thibaut Courtois to finally get his wish of a move to Real Madrid.Chelsea have turned to Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa, 23, after Courtois went AWOL to try and force his way out of Chelsea.
And the fee they have agreed to pay for Kepa will top the £67m Liverpool paid out to sign Alisson Becker from Roma just last month.
Courtois has ramped up his efforts to escape Chelsea this week by failing to turn up for training on Monday and Tuesday after also missing Sunday’s Community Shield.He is due to attend a meeting today to explain his no-show and also facing a fine of up to two weeks worth around £200,000 for defying the club.
Courtois is desperate to return to Madrid, where his two kids live, but Chelsea refused to sanction his exit until they had a replacement.
The 23-year-old has now arrived in Madrid and was seen at the airport ahead of a flight to London tomorrow to complete his move.
Kepa could have cost the Blues nothing had he not penned an extension to his contract at the San Mames on January 22 amidst speculation he would join Real Madrid.
But Kepa has now been chosen as the replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who has forced his way out of Stamford Bridge with one year remaining on his contract.
The Belgian will move to Real Madrid, who appear ready to sign him and replace Keylor Navas as their No.1.
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The Blues have settled on Kepa having considered a string of keepers including Jan Oblak, Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Pepe Reina, Sergio Rico and Kevin Trapp.
Kepa was part of the Spain World Cup squad for Russia 2018, but failed to play with David De Gea the undisputed first choice.
The Blues had little choice but to pay the astonishing fee with the Basque club’s refusal to ever negotiate transfer fees for their players.
Manchester City had a similar issue when they paid his £57m release clause to sign Aymeric Laporte.
With Courtois set to head for Madrid for around £35m Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic is set to head the opposite direction to help sweeten the Belgian goalkeeper’s move.
Was Kepa Arrizabalaga the best choice available to replace Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea?
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