Talks “progressing well” between Chelsea and Arsenal for potential £5m transfer | OneFootball

A year ago it looked like Chelsea would never manage to shift Kepa Arrizabalaga permanently, now they somehow have competition for his signature.

After a successful rehabilitation year on loan at Bournemouth, the Basque stopper is in demand again. The South Coast club would like to sign permanently, but they’re not the only ones.

Chelsea’s Champions League rivals want Blues backup Kepa

Kepa Arrizabalaga in action for Bournemouth against Tottenham. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

According to an exclusive from TeamTalk, Arsenal are in “regular and positive contact” with the Blues over the goalkeeper they once spent £71m on to replace Thibaut Courtois.

The 30 year old signed a one year contract extension a year ago when going on loan to protect his value, and various reports have held that that extension had a release clause of around £5m inserted in it, so there’s no way we’re going to make big money on this move.

But the potential is still there to do pretty well, given he could have walked for free.

Talks between Arsenal and Kepa are said to be “progressing well” and both sides are interested in coming ot a deal. The Gunners want the Spaniard to back up countryman David Raya next season.

There’s been a surprising amount of transfer business between Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years, with Olivier Giroud, Willian, David Luiz, Kai Havertz and others moving one way or the other.

Chelsea ready to tick another player off legacy list

Chelsea have their own goalkeeper questions to answer, with bids going in for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan and several other options already on the books. Getting rid of Kepa this summer already looks to be a given, but it will tick another legacy contract off the list as the new sporting directors look to continue their evolution of the squad.