Mendy displaced Kepa as the first choice goalkeeper at Chelsea
According to Estadio Deportivo via Sport Witness (h/t Mirror), Chelsea have a major obstacle in their efforts to sell Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Spaniard has struggled to impress and is currently behind Edouard Mendy in the pecking order. It is a difficult position to place the world’s most expensive keeper in a backup role just two years after signing him.
Bu Kepa has failed to make use of the opportunities given to him. He has struggled time and again and has been at the end of some major blunders. The latest being his error that led to Liverpool’s second earlier this season.
However, his wages are proving to be a stumbling block when it comes to getting rid of him.
A major example of it was seen in the summer. Spanish side Sevilla were keen to take on the goalkeeper on loan. They were however priced out of a move owing to Kepa’s wages at Chelsea.
While Chelsea are ready to offload the player, they must be ready to take a hit on their £71million investment.
According to the report, Kepa too will have to lower his wage demands if he is to seek a move elsewhere. He currently earns an impressive £150,000 per week at Stamford Bridge.
This makes him the fourth-highest earner at the club. It is an incredible amount to pay a player who is out of favour.
To put it into perspective, Kepa’s wages are more than that of Hakim Ziyech, Cesar Azpiliciueta, and N’Golo Kante. The Blues placed a lot of faith in him to replace Thibaut Courtois in 2018. It is fair to say he has not delivered.
It will come as no surprise if Kepa’s time at the club is truly over. In fact, as a non-performing asset, moving him on even at a loss would be a sensible thing to do for both parties.
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