The Spaniard has become the Gunners' number one goalkeeper target.
Header Image: via BBC Sport.
Arsenal are making good progress with a deal to sign Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga and are expected to trigger the £5m release clause in his contract, according to Sky Sports and The Athletic.
Arteta has been on the lookout for a new number two to challenge David Raya, and is understood to be impressed with Kepa's desire to join and fight for his place in the team.
He would add another Spaniard to the goalkeeper department at the Emirates Stadium, joining Raya and goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana.
Kepa was was signed by Chelsea in the summer of 2018 from Athletic Club for £71.8m, a world record transfer fee for a goalkeeper at the time, but failed to ever establish himself as a long term number one for Chelsea. Inconsistent performances saw the Stamford Bridge side bring in a large number of goalkeepers to challenge and/or replace him.
Kepa signed a new deal at Chelsea last summer to allow him to go to Bournemouth on loan last season. The same deal saw him take a pay cut, but it also included a £5m release clause.
Earlier this week, French outlet L’Equipe had reported that the Gunners were also looking at Chelsea's Djordje Petrovic this summer. Petrovic reportedly comes with a handsome price tag of £21m.
Liam Rosenior, in charge of the Strasbourg side that Petrovic spent the season on loan with, said of him after a match in January: “We have seen huge progress from Petro. He is a world-class goalkeeper. We see it every day and it is still paying off today.”
After all, Arsenal have a good transfer history with their London rivals after Kai Havertz, Jorginho, and Raheem Sterling all made the red-to-blue switch in recent years. Petr Cech also made the move from the Bridge to the Emirates in 2015.
