Chelsea told to pull out of Arsenal transfer deal at last minute

Chelsea have been told to pull out of their transfer deal with Arsenal and keep Kepa Arrizabalaga at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal are closing in on a £5m deal for Kepa and intend for the Spanish goalkeeper to be Mikel Arteta’s No. 2 behind David Raya.

Neto performed that role last season but did not inspire confidence and has now returned to boyhood club Bournemouth, who incidentally had Kepa on loan.

Chelsea spent £72m on Kepa in 2018 – making him the most expensive goalkeeper in history – but are now ready to take a massive loss.

Kepa struggled to justify his huge price-tag at Chelsea before losing his place in the team and then being sent out on two loan deals, first Real Madrid and then Bournemouth.

Chelsea look set to sell Kepa despite also tying to sign a new goalkeeper this summer and failing in a bid for Mike Maignan.

Robert Sanchez endured a disappointing season and a host of pundits believe an upgrade is needed for Chelsea to go to the next level and win major trophies.

Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes his former club could save millions in transfer fees by keeping Kepa at the club rather than bringing in a new goalkeeper.

‘The goalkeeper position is a tough one for Chelsea because what they’re looking for is youth,’ he told Spin Genie.

‘But goalkeepers, like centre-backs, don’t really come into their own until they’re around 25 or 26. They are two very specific positions in that regard.

‘We all look at Jordan Pickford and think he’d be brilliant. He’s a fantastic shot-stopper and is okay with the ball at his feet, but he’d cost a lot of money and I don’t think the goalkeeper position is where they want to spend that money.

‘Look who’s already on their books with Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Gabriel Slonina, Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

‘I think the resolution to their goalkeeping problem could already be at the club. Kepa is as good as any of the goalkeepers we have mentioned and he’s an option that I think is worth revisiting for Chelsea.

‘I’m not sure if the ownership regime would think the same, but he’s there and they’re paying him.

‘If he’s the best option at the club, after learning a lot of things while out on loan this season, Chelsea shouldn’t be looking all around the world for another goalkeeper.

‘Kepa has got better with his feet and is a fantastic shot-stopper. While you can question his presence and it’s a challenge Chelsea face, I don’t think it’s their biggest problem.’

Fellow ex-Chelsea star Shaun Wright-Phillips also believes it would be a mistake to sell Kepa, especially to a direct rival.

‘I’m confused. I don’t understand,’ Wright-Phillips told Betway when asked abut Kepa’s imminent move to the Emirates Stadium.

‘It’s like nobody’s been watching Kepa this season. He’s been unbelievable. He is part of the reason why Bournemouth finished where they finished.

‘The defence was outstanding, but Kepa was unbelievable, as well, I thought.

‘I assumed while the season was going on that Chelsea didn’t need to buy a goalkeeper because Kepa was going back anyway, but that isn’t to be the case.

‘You can have as good a goalkeeper as you want, but if you’re still going to make the same mistakes in defence, your goalkeeper is still going to concede.

‘That’s just the fact of the matter. [Liverpool goalkeeper] Alisson pulls off amazing saves when he’s needed. Half the time he has to pull off a save, it’s not forced errors.

‘So if Chelsea can get their defence like that, where they’re not making him make unnecessary saves he shouldn’t have to make, then I think Kepa is your man to keep. You don’t need to forage around.

‘Most managers now are looking for goalkeepers that are good with their feet. I think Kepa’s alright with his feet, but he might not be at the level they want him to be.

‘But for me, it’s a real strange one.’

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