High-Earning Chelsea Player Nearing Exit After Talks Abroad

One of Chelsea’s high-earning players is close to leaving the club after discussions with an overseas team. Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley continue to reshape Enzo Maresca’s squad.

Chelsea’s Busy Summer Transfer Window

With weeks remaining until the summer transfer deadline on August 30, Chelsea has been active in the market. The Blues have confirmed six new signings and seen an equal number of departures.

New Signings and Departures

Chelsea has spent around £93 million on new arrivals, including center-back Tosin Adarabioyo, striker Marc Guiu, starlet Omari Kellyman, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Brazilian prodigy Estevao Willian, and 20-year-old Renato Veiga. In contrast, sales of Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech, Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, Michael Golding, and Ian Maatsen have brought in approximately £89 million, balancing the books effectively.

Financial Strategy and Squad Management

With a net spend of just £4 million, Chelsea is on track to comply with PSR regulations this financial year. This financial prudence could allow the club to further strengthen the squad in the coming weeks. Enzo Maresca has expressed his desire for a new striker to compete with Nicolas Jackson, and the club is still in the market for a winger after missing out on Michael Olise.

Potential Exits

More exits are expected as Todd Boehly looks to offload several high-profile players. Romelu Lukaku has attracted serious interest from AC Milan and Napoli, while goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is also eyeing a move away. Kepa spent last season on loan at Real Madrid and is keen to return to the Bernabeu permanently. However, this move depends on Andriy Lunin’s contract situation, which expires next year.

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s Potential Departure

Kepa Arrizabalaga, earning £150,000 per week, has other options besides Real Madrid. The Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad is looking to reunite Kepa with N’Golo Kante.

Al-Ittihad’s Interest in Kepa

The Athletic reports that Kepa’s exit from Chelsea is nearing as talks with Al-Ittihad continue. Although an initial bid was turned down, the Saudi club remains persistent. Kepa became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for around £72 million in 2018, but his performances have not consistently justified the price tag.

Former Chelsea assistant Arno Michels praised Kepa’s penalty-saving abilities in 2022, stating, “His strength is to save penalties; he’s shown it a few times now: in the Carabao Cup twice, against Villarreal, and even in training, it’s hard to beat him. In penalty shootouts, he has the ability to read the mind of what the player is going to do. We are very happy with Kepa and he deserves this trust because he is a fantastic guy.”

As the transfer window approaches its end, Chelsea’s squad is set for more changes, with key decisions to be made on player exits and potential new signings.