Juventus are interested in signing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
According to Fichajes (h/t Football.London), Juventus are targeting a move for Chelsea shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard commanded the record transfer fee for a goalkeeper but has now become second fiddle to Edouard Mendy who has cemented his place as a regular whenever fit.
The 27-year-old has had a roller coaster of a time at Stamford Bridge. His performances have blown hot and cold ever since he made the switch. We now have the Senegalese keeper who is a more composed and calm presence at the back.
This has seen Kepa fall down the pecking order and the Bianconeri could be looking to pounce on the situation. Wojciech Szczęsny is currently the first-choice shot-stopper for the Turin-based club. That being said, the Polish international is 31 and the Serie A giants could look to future proof their goalkeeping department by securing the services of Arrizabalaga.
Is Kepa’s time done?
At 27, the Spanish keeper is headed into the prime years of his career. It is unlikely that he would want to sit on the bench for the majority of this period. Considering the performances of Edouard Mendy it would also be difficult for the former Athletic Bilbao to have this wish granted.
Whilst that may be true, the Spaniard did prove to be a dependable option in the absence of the former Stade Reims keeper. He played a large role in helping us get to the final of the EFL Cup but was largely overshadowed by his nightmare in the penalty shootout against Liverpool.
A lack of regular minutes could also hinder his prospects of cementing a place with the Spanish national squad. Under such circumstances, the club could be wise to depart with Kepa should a suitable offer be made for his services. While that may hold true, we do not have any suitable replacement who could cover in the absence of Mendy.
The club should therefore weigh all aspects if they are to welcome a move that would see the Spanish international move away from the Stamford Bridge outfit. We should also be on the lookout for prospective options that could fill in aptly with a view to future proof our goalkeeping department.
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Arrizabalaga has played 124 matches, bagging 47 clean sheets and conceding 130 goals across all competitions to date for the Blues. The interest from Juventus could be off-putting if we are genuinely interested in keeping the shot-stopper at London or fail to shortlist any suitable replacements.