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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella

Napoli weigh up Kepa Arrizabalaga bid as Chelsea work on Gabriel Slonina deal

On the move?: Kepa Arrizabalaga

(Picture: Getty Images)

Kepa Arrizabalaga could be offered a route out of Chelsea by Napoli, who are interested in signing the goalkeeper either on a permanent basis or on loan.

But talks over a move for Kepa are complicated by his huge £190,000-a-week wages.

The world’s most expensive goalkeeper, who Chelsea paid £71.6million for in 2018, is unhappy with his status as back-up to Edouard Mendy at Stamford Bridge.

Any deal for Kepa is further complicated because Chelsea would need to sign a replacement if they do offload him.

The Blues are in talks to sign 18-year-old Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina for around £10m.

Slonina is expected to decide his future next week but, should he move to Stamford Bridge, it is likely he will be loaned back to his MLS side next season.

That would leave Chelsea short of goalkeeping options and Thomas Tuchel does not want to lose Kepa unless a replacement is signed.

Kepa lost his place as Chelsea No1 after Mendy joined in a £22m deal from Rennes in 2020.

Napoli are in the market for a goalkeeper as they target another title push in Serie A next season.

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