Kepa Arrizabalaga is heading back to Spain (Picture: Getty Images)
Kepa Arrizabalaga has turned down the chance to join Bayern Munich this summer, instead set to join Real Madrid on loan from Chelsea.
The 28-year-old may have struggled since joining the Blues in the Premier League in 2018, but he has attracted the interest of two of the world’s biggest clubs during this transfer window.
The Spain international was close to agreeing a loan switch to Bayern, but Spanish publication Marca reports that Real Madrid have swooped and will take him on a season-long deal instead.
The Spanish giants are in need of a new goalkeeper after Thibault Courtois suffered a cruciate ligament injury during a training session on Thursday.
Real Madrid were linked with a move for free agent David De Gea after he left Manchester United, but they are instead bringing in the Chelsea man on a short-term deal.
The Blues have brought in Robert Sanchez from Brighton this summer, who was expected to be competition for Kepa, but it now seems that the new arrival will go straight in as first choice with the gloves.
Speaking about having the pair of Spain internationals at his disposal, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino said Kepa was in front of Sanchez, but that appears to have changed already.
‘It’s going to be very good competition. We needed to sign another [goalkeeper]. The club followed him for a long time and it was a good opportunity for the club to sign him, and a good challenge for Kepa,’ said Pochettino on Friday.
‘Kepa is, [after] three, four weeks working with us, a little bit ahead of him. Like in all different players, it is a challenge for them to keep their place if they play on Sunday.
‘For the players not going to play they need to fight to catch the teammates playing in their place.
‘That is competition and for sure will improve both Chelsea and the two very good keepers who fight for the position.’
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A huge move for the 28-year-old.