Chelsea’s out-of-favour goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is ready to take a pay cut to join Serie A giants Napoli this summer.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Serie A giants Napoli have made out-of-favour Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga among the priority signings for the ongoing transfer window. The Spanish goalkeeping ace is open to joining Napoli and is even ready to take a pay cut to join the Partenopei.
Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Chelsea in an €80 million move from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 to become the most expensive goalkeeper of all time. However, his performances at Stamford Bridge have been nowhere near the expectations that were put on him, although he has been much improved in the past year or so.
The 27-year-old was the Blues’ first-choice shot-stopper for two seasons before Edouard Mendy displaced him. Over the last two campaigns, Kepa has been relegated to the Chelsea bench and has managed a combined 11 Premier League appearances, although he has been a regular in cup competitions.
With 2022 being a World Cup year, the Spanish goalkeeping ace is eager to get game time under his belt and is open to leaving the west London club this summer. Considering Kepa’s high wages, a loan move away from Chelsea seems the most feasible option at this moment.
The 27-year-old earns around €9 million per year in wages, which Napoli cannot afford, and they are thus more inclined towards a loan move. The Serie A giants are reportedly ready to pay €3 million towards his salary, hoping that Chelsea will handle the rest. Kepa has made the two clubs’ job a tad easier as he is open to joining Napoli and taking a pay cut to facilitate the move.
The Spanish goalkeeper was reportedly open to a pay cut to join former boss Maurizio Sarri at Lazio as well, but that move did not materialise. The former Athletic Bilbao man is not the only goalkeeper on Napoli’s wishlist with Keylor Navas, Neto and Kevin Trapp all on their radar.
Kepa, however, is the number one choice for the position for the Serie A giants. Napoli’s first-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret is entering the final year of his contract with the club, and talks of a possible extension have not gone on well. In addition, David Ospina has departed from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
