Chelsea have earmarked Athletic goalkeeper Kepa as Thibaut Courtois’ replacement and are willing to match his €80m (£71.6m) release clause, claims Marca.
Courtois is desperate to join Madrid and has failed to report for training this week in a bid to force through a move to reconnect with his children in Spain.
Chelsea have spent the last few days frantically scouring Europe for his replacement and finally appear to have found their No.1 target.
England international’s Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford were considered, but now Chelsea have set their sights on Kepa, who ironically almost joined Madrid in January.
Kepa only signed a new long-term deal at the start of the year and Athletic will not allow him to leave for anything less than his €80m release clause.
Liverpool broke the world record fee for a goalkeeper by signing Alisson from Roma earlier this summer in a £66.9m deal, but Chelsea are set to shatter it.
While Kepa, 23, could feasibly be Chelsea’s goalkeeper for the next 10 years, eyebrows will be raised if Maurizio Sarri’s side go on to sign the youngster.
It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for the Athletic goalkeeper, who was included in Spain’s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup, and could remarkably end in becoming the most expensive goalkeeper ever.
Kepa made more accurate long balls than any player in La Liga last season (368).
