- 17 hours ago
Chelsea boss Lampard does not rule of Kepa exit in January
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 19 May 2021 12:09 BST
- 2 min read
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has not closed the door on goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga leaving the club during the January transfer window.
Kepa is in the midst of a difficult season, in which he has featured only four times.
He has been pushed back to second choice since Edouard Mendy arrived from Rennes in the summer. Indeed, he has played only once since conceding three in a home draw against Southampton – that in a dead rubber Champions League tie against Krasnodar.
Lampard would not be drawn whether the Spain international’s future lies at Stamford Bridge, but he appeared open to a deal when discussing the matter with the press ahead of an FA Cup tie against Morecombe on Sunday.
“He’s trained really well and his attitude around the place has been brilliant. Kepa’s our player and I won’t be alluding to what might happen in January,” he said.
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Kepa’s future not a priority for Chelsea
While Chelsea may wish to offload the goalkeeper, January is a notoriously difficult time to do business.
The coronavirus pandemic has further flattened the market, with many clubs having to take financial action in order to cut their losses.
Kepa, meanwhile, is the world’s most expensive goalkeeper. He signed for Chelsea from Athletic Club in 2018 for a fee of around £71 million and the Blues will be eager to recoup as much of that as possible if and when he departs.
The 26-year-old is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2025.
In his two-and-a-half years at the club, he has played 99 times and kept 33 cleansheets, though the last of those was on 14th July in a 1-0 win over relegated Norwich.
Lampard, meanwhile, is concentrating primarily on cutting down the numbers in his squad over the course of January. However, it is in defence and midfield where he has the greatest excess. His focus will be on these areas rather than shifting on Kepa.
