Chelsea ready to take £63m hit on player to help fund move for Arsenal star

Chelsea are reportedly ready to take a huge £63 million hit on their own player to help fund a move for an Arsenal star.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was signed from Athletic Bilbao for a record fee of £72 million back in 2018.

Since then, he has been displaced by Edouard Mendy before recapturing the number-one spot last season.

However, new boss Mauricio Pochettino brought in a new goalkeeper in the shape of Robert Sanchez, leaving Arrizabalaga’s future in doubt.

During the summer transfer window, Arrizabalaga was loaned to Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid after their first-choice goalkeeper Thibault Courtois suffered a serious injury.

Now, according to Spanish news outlet La Defensa, Madrid would like to keep Arrizabalaga but are only willing to pay £8.7 million to make the loan deal permanent.

If Chelsea accept the offer, they will be taking a huge £63 million hit on the Spaniard.

The Stamford Bridge club could in turn use the money to try and lure Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale away from the Emirates.

Ramsdale has found himself stuck on the Arsenal bench after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta signed David Raya from Brentford this summer.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Chelsea are keen to take advantage of the situation and sign the Englishman.

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Sanchez made a huge blunder during Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Arsenal on Saturday after he passed the ball straight to Declan Rice to score.

After the match, Pochettino spoke about Sanchez, he said: “We are so happy with him. Of course he is disappointed and upset with his decision but mistakes happen in football.

“This goal gave the belief to Arsenal. We can maybe read better the situation, the tempo, the timing. We can take risks on 77 minutes because it’s our philosophy, but maybe there is another decision you can take.”

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