Chelsea handed transfer LIFELINE as Saudi Pro League eyes €80m flop

Cameron Smith

• 5 Jul 2024 09:00 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea could be handed a transfer lifeline following news that Al-Ittihad are interested in signing Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer.

The Saudi Pro League side are actively searching for a new goalkeeper ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, and Kepa is reportedly one of their targets.

According to Rudy Galetti, Al-Ittihad are currently prioritising a move for Athletico Paranaense shot-stopper Bento, who has also been linked with a Premier League switch in recent months.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

However, the Saudi Arabian club have also approached Kepa and Jan Oblak, with the pair considered viable alternatives to Bento.

Al-Ittihad signed N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema and Fabinho last summer, but they did not purchase a high-profile goalkeeper and that is an oversight they are reportedly trying to fix.

READ MORE: Chelsea Transfer News LIVE

Why Chelsea want to sell Kepa

Kepa, 29, joined Chelsea for €80 million in 2018, but he endured a torrid start to life at Stamford Bridge and was soon dropped for Willy Caballero.

Edouard Mendy subsequently arrived in 2020 and Kepa was demoted to second-choice for Chelsea’s Champions League-winning season.

The Spaniard regained his place during the Blues’ woeful 2022-23 campaign, but the arrivals of Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic saw him loaned to Real Madrid last summer.

Kepa was signed as Thibaut Courtois’ replacement at the Santiago Bernabeu, however he was soon ousted by Andriy Lunin and was only able to muster 20 appearances in all competitions.

He is one of seven players that Chelsea are reportedly willing to sell this summer as the Blues look to trim down Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad.

Reports suggest that Sanchez will be the club’s number one ‘keeper next campaign, due to his ability in possession, with Petrovic likely to play a back-up role.

Kepa seemingly isn’t in Chelsea’s plans, but finding a buyer has proven rather tricky. If Al-Ittihad are unable to sign Bento, the Blues may be provided with the opportunity to offload one of their biggest ever transfer flops.