Real Madrid are considering a dramatic U-turn in the transfer of Kepa Arrizabalaga

Real Madrid are considering a new move to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, a Spanish report claims.

Kepa spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Los Blancos, who landed at Stamford Bridge, with summer signings Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic both favored by head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Although Pochettino has been replaced by Enzo Maresca at the Blues and the Italian is known for wanting his goalkeepers to play at the back – a skill neither Sanchez nor Petrovic have excelled at – it remains a distinct possibility that Kepa will leave Chelsea again.

Madrid initially decided not to re-sign Kepa after he fell behind Andriy Lunin in Carlo Ancelotti’s goalkeeper list during his year-long loan.

However, Relevo have reported that the newly crowned European champions are considering Kepa and with Lunin, who has returned to support Thibaut Courtois, who won the title again, he could be sold.

Kepa began life in Madrid as a starter after Courtois tore his ACL, but after picking up his injury and putting in a series of subpar games, he also lost his place to Lunin, who received widespread praise for his displays.

This led to Lunin being heavily linked with a move away from Madrid to seek first-team football following Courtois’ return to fitness, and the Belgian returned to the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund while Ukraine was ill.

Madrid were impressed by Kepa’s off-field behavior during his loan spell and was well-liked by the club’s players, while he is credited with helping Lunin in their penalty shoot-out win over Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Therefore, Madrid sees the ‘logical’ side of signing Kepa on a new loan so that they can use the transfer funds in other positions.

Kepa’s Chelsea contract expires in 2025 but the club do not intend to keep him for long, so another loan until the end of his contract has not been issued.

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