Report Names The Two Replacements That Chelsea Have ‘Identified’ For Kepa

Report Names The Two Replacements That Chelsea Have ‘Identified’ For Kepa

Chelsea have “identified” Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Ajax’s Andre Onana as their two main targets to replace current number one Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to the Evening Standard.

Both names have been mentioned as potential options before but after Frank Lampard left Kepa out of the starting line up for yesterday’s 2-0 win against Wolves, the writing is on the all for the Spaniard.

Oblak, who is also said to be a target for Manchester United, would likely be the first choice. However, with a release clause of €120m (£109m), the Slovenian international would be extremely expensive, and it could curtail the Blues’ other transfer plans.

Onana, meanwhile, is much cheaper with reports suggesting he could be sold for just €30m (£27m). It will be up to Lampard whether he feels the goalkeeping position is of paramount importance or if he is satisfied with investing less in that area to prioritise the likes of Kai Havertz or a centre-back signing.

Considering how poorly Kepa has performed, you would have thought that a new number one would be the club’s top priority now the transfer window has opened.

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.