Chelsea are yet to strike an agreement with Napoli over goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, despite it being claimed ‘the road is paved’ for a transfer to happen.
That’s according to Sport Mediaset, relayed by Calcio Napoli 24, who provide an update on the Italian side’s efforts to sign the goalkeeper today.
Napoli have been named as suitors for Kepa for several weeks with them keen to add competition, or even a potential replacement, for Alex Meret.
The latter is yet to sign a new deal at the club and, if he does not do so, will be sold this summer as his current deal is set to expire next summer.
Talks have been underway for a while but Chelsea and Napoli are yet to reach an agreement over a price for the Spaniard.
Sport Mediaset explain that the ‘road is paved’ for the goalkeeper to make the move and he already has an agreement in place on his contract.
There is, however, a ‘distance’ with Chelsea that needs to be bridged as the Blues want a €3m loan with the inclusion of €5.5m in possible bonuses.
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis would like to reduce this figure ‘drastically’ and is hoping that Kepa’s agent, Fali Ramadani, can arrange that with Chelsea.
If that can’t be worked out, Napoli are ready to turn to Simon Mignolet as an alternative with Salvatore Sirigu as his number two.
That could be a warning to Chelsea to accept their terms, and we certainly wouldn’t put Napoli above using that sort of tactic, but it seems there is still work to be done if Kepa is to move to Italy this summer.
