Chelsea REJECT Saudi Pro League bid for forgotten star with Real Madrid ready to pounce

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 13 Jul 2024 08:58 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea have turned down an offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for Kepa Arrizabalaga, with the Spaniard still thought to be holding out for a return to Real Madrid.

Kepa is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer having entered the final 12 months of his contract and the 29-year-old has been training away from Chelsea’s first team upon his return to pre-season.

With younger goalkeepers Robert Sanchez and Dorde Petrovic still on long-term contracts, Chelsea have no desire to keep Kepa, paving way from an approach from Al-Ittihad.

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An unspecified bid was made by the Saudi Arabian side however it has been turned down, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, although talks are expected to continue.

A report by Spanish outlet MARCA also claims that Kepa himself has also rejected the chance to join Al-Ittihad as he is waiting to see if a return to Real is possible.

Kepa spent last season on loan in Madrid but only made one start after January, however Real are keen to sign him only if Andriy Lunin leaves the club this summer.

Kepa’s return to Real depends on Lunin future

Kepa initially joined Real after first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois suffered a long-term injury at the start of the season and, while he 19 starts for the club, only one of those came after January.

Lunin was eventually preferred to Kepa by manager Carlo Ancelotti, however the 25-year-old – who also only has one year remaining on his contract – could leave in search of first team football, with Courtois back in action.

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Compared

Kepa Arrizabalaga

GK

Real Madrid

Kepa Arrizabalaga

GK

Real Madrid

VS

Andriy Lunin

GK

Real Madrid

Andriy Lunin

GK

Real Madrid

2023/2024

Season Statistics

2023/2024

20	Appearances	31
1767	Minutes Played	2850

Ancelotti is said to be keen to bring Kepa back if Lunin leves, with all eyes on the Ukrainian, who would not get a new contract even if he remains at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite Kepa becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in history when he joined Chelsea for €80 million in 2018, the Blues would not stand in the way of his departure as they want to get his salary off the books, meaning the cost of a transfer would not be excessive.