Kepa

Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga this week.

The 30-year-old has a £5m release clause after adding an extra year to his contract last summer before a successful loan spell at Bournemouth.

The former Spain international will soon join Arsenal to compete with compatriot David Raya for the starting spot.

Arsenal needed a new number two goalkeeper after opting against signing Neto, who spent last season on loan at Emirates Stadium from Bournemouth, on a permanent basis.

Kepa remains the world’s most expensive goalkeeper since joining Chelsea in 2018 for £72m from boyhood club Athletic Bilbao.

He played 163 times for Chelsea, winning four major honours during a mixed seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

He also spent a season on loan at Real Madrid and won La Liga and the Champions League during the 2023-24 season.

Jack Grealish might replace Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting U-turn angers Viktor Gyokeres, Manchester City agree Rayan Cherki fee.

Manchester City’s England winger Jack Grealish, 29, is being lined up as a potential replacement for 22-year-old Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz if he leaves Bayer Leverkusen. (Sun), external

Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres is furious that his club Sporting have gone back on a gentleman’s agreement that the 27-year-old could leave this summer for £67m. (Record – in Portuguese), external

Manchester City have agreed a £34m deal with Lyon for 21-year-old France midfielder Rayan Cherki. (Times – subscription required), external

Arsenal are keen to sign Chelsea’s Spain goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, 30, for just £5m. (Sky Sports), external

Burnley have valued their French centre-back Maxime Esteve, 23, at £50m amid interest from Bayern Munich, who are managed by the ex-Clarets boss Vincent Kompany. (Football Insider), external

Paris St-Germain’s 22-year-old France winger Bradley Barcola is Bayern’s top target for a new singing on the wing this summer, with Atletico Madrid’s Spain winger Nico Williams, also 22, their top alternative. (Sky Sport Germany – in German), external

PSG want Bournemouth’s Ilya Zabarni but the Cherries are demanding £59m for the 22-year-old Ukraine centre-back. (L’Equipe – in French), external

Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, while Manchester United also remain admirers of the Ghana forward, 25. (Sky Sports), external

Newcastle United are keen on signing Ghana winger Mohammed Kudus, 24, from West Ham after missing out on Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. (Football Insider), external

West Ham are considering a swap deal with Chelsea involving Kudu, while the Hammers are prepared to let Morocco centre-back Nayef Aguerd leave this summer for £25m. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester City are ready to make a move for Chelsea’s English goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, 33, following the departure of Scott Carson. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Tottenham are one of the latest clubs to show an interest in Red Bull Salzburg’s Mali winger Dorgeles Nene, 22. (Teamtalk), external

ARSENAL are considering a shock move to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to reports.

Kepa, 30, spent this season on loan with Bournemouth, where he kept eight clean sheets in 31 Premier League appearances.

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The Spanish shot-stopper is surplus to requirements at Chelsea, who signed him for £72million in 2018 – a record fee for a goalkeeper.

But his time with The Blues didn’t go to plan and Kepa has since been on loan with Bournemouth and Real Madrid, last playing for Chelsea in 2023.

It now looks like a permanent exit is on the cards after Sky Sports revealed that Arsenal are interested in signing Kepa to provide backup for David Raya.

Kepa is thought to be available for just £5MILLION thanks to a release clause in his contract that was agreed prior to his loan move to the Cherries last summer.

Should the Gunners convince Kepa to jump ship to North London, they would be securing his services for over 14 TIMES less than Chelsea payed for him at first.

Kepa’s current contract with Chelsea expires in 2026.

Bournemouth keeper Neto spent last season on loan with Arsenal, making just one appearance across the entire campaign.

Arsenal had been linked with a move to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia this summer, but the La Liga gloveman now looks set for a move to Barcelona.

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Mikel Arteta and his team are hoping to add depth in between the sticks, but are thought to still see David Raya as the number one.

Raya has won consecutive Golden Glove awards since his arrival from Brentford, forming the base of the Premier League’s most formidable defence this season.

For Arteta, the main focus will be on bringing in a centre-forward.

Arsenal are crying out for a front man this summer after injuries forced midfielder Mikel Merino to play up front for the latter stages of the campaign.

Reports have suggested that one of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko or Sporting bagsman Viktor Gyokeres will come through the door at the Emirates in the coming months.

However, both deals are likely to be expensive and neither player is without suitors from other top clubs around Europe too.