Kepa Arrizabalaga became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world when Chelsea paid his €80m release clause in 2018.
However, the Spain international hasn’t fully convinced with his performances this season and this has seen the Blues being linked with a handful of goalkeepers.
According to AS, Atlético Madrid star Jan Oblak has emerged as a target for the west London club.
‘Sources close to the Blues’ have told the newspaper the Slovenia international is a ‘priority target’ for Frank Lampard, and the Premier League side are expected to make an approach for his services.
It’s not that those at Stamford Bridge are unsatisfied with the former Athletic Bilbao man, but Lampard’s interest in Oblak is such that he’s willing to part ways with Kepa.
The report explains Chelsea are ‘willing to reach an amount of around €100m’, and if the deal goes through, Oblak will overtake Kepa to become the most expensive keeper.
Claims from the British press suggested the English side are willing to lower the cost of the operation by including Kepa as a part of the deal.
Diego Simeone’s side, however, are ‘not considering leaving Oblak in any way’ because if they have to retain any chance of winning domestic and European competitions, Los Rojiblancos will have to hold on to their best players.
The Atlético stopper last signed an extension in April 2019 and with that, he saw his release clause change from €100m to €120m.
AS add the proposal which Chelsea ‘would put on the table from the very beginning of the negotiation’ would not be far from his asking price.
