Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is on the verge of completing a loan move to Spanish giants , Real Madrid.
Thibaut Courtois, the 31-year-old starting custodian for Real Madrid, is expected to miss the duration of the current campaign due to a cruciate knee ligament injury.
David de Gea, a free agent and former custodian for Manchester United, had been mentioned as a possible Bernabeu candidate, but Kepa, 28 years old, has emerged as Madrid’s top choice.
Read Also:Done Deal: Sanchez seals Chelsea switch from Brighton
Robert Sanchez, a fellow Spaniard, will challenge Kepa at Chelsea after moving for £25 million from Brighton.
Kepa and Sanchez would have “very good competition” at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday.
In August 2018, Kepa moved from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea for £71 million, the most ever paid for a goalkeeper.
But after losing it to Edouard Mendy, he won it back last season when the Senegal goalkeeper was sidelined.
After Mendy departure from Chelsea to Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League in June, Kepa was set to become Chelsea first choice.
Kepa, who has played 163 times for Chelsea, was also rumoured to be moving to Bayern Munich after recent injury setback for Manuel Neuer.