From Spain: Kepa doesn’t think he’ll play for Chelsea again, as Blues hunt replacement

The transfer window before Chelsea paid €80m for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Real Madrid had the opportunity to sign him for €20m.

That was his Athletic Club Bilbao release clause at the time, and endless claims in the Spanish sport media said a move to Madrid was almost concluded.

Then Zindine Zidane put a stop to the operation, and Kepa renewed with Athletic in a deal which saw his clause rise to the €80m figure.

Given Athletic only sell their key players for the release clause amount, the only way Chelsea could get him was to part with the €80m, even if that was clearly an inflated amount.

Kepa’s move to Stamford Bridge hasn’t been as successful as those involved will have hoped, and Mundo Deportivo now report the goalkeeper has ‘resigned himself’ to not appearing for Chelsea again.

The Spanish newspaper reports Kepa doesn’t believe he’ll be given minutes and that the club are seeking a sale. That will be a tough task for the Premier League side, and it’s certain they won’t get anywhere near what they paid for him.

Now the stopper is ‘desperately looking for a way out’, because he doesn’t feel Frank Lampard has faith in him.