“Agreement done” – Romano latest has full details on loan and new contract for Chelsea player | OneFootball

Kepa Arrizabalaga is just one step away from completing a loan move to Bournemouth.

The Chelsea goalkeeper, who has been effectively up for sale for 3 or 4 years now and spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, has found a rather different solution to this season, with a move to the Bernabeu followed by a move to the Vitality Stadium.

There’s been chatter about this move for a week or so, but of course it’s Fabrizio Romano who has today swooped in with some of the interesting details. He says the “deal” is “done” and that the Spaniard is at the Bournemouth training ground right now doing his medical.

The questions hanging over this deal have been about Kepa’s contract. With just one year left on his deal, a loan would effectively mean that Chelsea are just giving him a free transfer a year early. The only benefit to them would be the portion of the Basque’s wages that the Cherries would pay. But Romano has confirmed that Kepa will sign on for another year at Chelsea to protect his value before heading out on loan.

Another option ticked off

There are still so many players to be moved on in these final days – it’s all going to be rather hectic. But getting Kepa out of the door is a big one.

If you thought that would mean a slight diminishing in the number of goalkeepers on our books, think again. Young Belgian Mike Penders has officially joined today, although he is going to return to Genk on loan for now.

Of course the problem with a loan is that we will be back in this familiar situation in a year’s time – but by then the balances of the accountancy will mean that Kepa can be sold for just a few million without a book loss.