Arsenal hijack threatens Chelsea as European giants in ‘distress’ pursue £72m star after ‘cancellation’
According to reports, European giants Bayern Munich are interested in signing Kepa Arrizabalaga from Premier League side Chelsea.
Bayern Munich – who are now managed by Thomas Tuchel – are unsurprisingly being linked with several Premier League players this summer.
Kyle Walker was known to be on their radar but he is now edging towards signing a new contract at Manchester City.
The Bundesliga champions are still pursuing Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane but they have missed out on Brentford’s David Raya, who is set to sign for Arsenal.
The Spain international was linked with Manchester United and Tottenham earlier this summer but Bayern Munich have shown concrete interest in him.
Raya has ended up opting to join Arsenal and he faces a battle with England international Aaron Ramsdale for the No.1 spot at the Emirates.
Bayern Munich remain in the market for a new goalkeeper as Manuel Neuer – in the ‘worst case’ scenario – will be out of action for ‘several months’ due to injury, according to German outlet Sport1.
Tuchel’s side are in ‘goalkeeper distress’ at the moment but they ‘have their eye’ on Arrizabalaga, who Chelsea bought for £72m in 2018. The report adds.
‘After the cancellation of Brentford keeper David Raya, the German record champions, as SPORT1 exclusively learned, are now dealing with another Spaniard from the Premier League: Kepa Arrizabalaga.
‘Tuchel knows the 28-year-old very well from his time at Chelsea – and is said to have clearly recommended him, even if he mostly preferred Edouard Mendy to him at the time.
‘But that’s not all: Initial talks have already taken place with the management of the 13-time Spanish international and those responsible for Chelsea.
‘Kepa can well imagine a move to Bayern. Munich would like to loan Kepa for a season with an option to buy.’
READ MORE: Summer transfer window 2023… Chelsea only barely the biggest-earning Euro club with West Ham third
If he stays at Chelsea, it remains to be seen if Arrizabalaga will be Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice goalkeeper this season as they have spent around £20m to sign Robert Sanchez from Brighton.
Sanchez has insisted that he is “ready” for the challenge facing him at Stamford Bridge.
“I started my career here in England really. Brighton provided me with everything I needed as a goalkeeper, inside and outside the pitch, to get the maximum potential out of me. I’m really happy and thankful for that, now it’s another bigger challenge and I’m ready for it,” Sanchez said via Chelsea’s official website.
“I think choosing Chelsea is the best choice I could have picked because the opportunities that have been presented in front of me is amazing, to develop more as a goalkeeper, to keep learning and compete for the spot and show everyone how good I can be to the club for the next years to come.”
READ MORE: Premier League keepers ranked… New Arsenal man Raya fourth last season behind Leno
