Arsenal interested in bargain Chelsea transfer as cut-price fee emerges

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Arsenal have made Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga their top target as they look to sign a back-up goalkeeper this summer.

Mikel Arteta's side are light on experienced goalkeeping options with Neto returning to Bournemouth after his loan.

And Kepa, who spent the 2024/25 season as Neto's replacement at the Cherries, has been identified as the main candidate to provide competition for David Raya.

Joan Garcia was right alongside Kepa at the top of Arsenal's shopping list, but he is expected to sign for Barcelona, meaning the Gunners are expected to prioritise a move for the Chelsea 'keeper.

Kepa has a £5 million release clause in his contract at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal see that as a potential bargain, recruiting a goalkeeper with Premier League and Champions League experience for a reasonable fee.

football.london understands that Arsenal are interested in signing Kepa and will hope to convince him to make the move to the Emirates Stadium.

Kepa made 35 appearances for Bournemouth last season and kept nine clean sheets as the Cherries finished ninth in the Premier League, their joint-best finish with 56 points.

The Spain international, who won the Champions League at Chelsea in 2021, became the world's most expensive goalkeeper after he made the £71.6million move to the Blues from Athletic Club de Bilbao seven years ago.

He has since made 163 first-team appearances for the club, though he hasn't featured in a Chelsea shirt since the end of the 2022/23 season, when he was first-choice under Graham Potter.

Arsenal have several talented goalkeepers on their books, including Tommy Setford - who acted as the club's No.3 option last season. Setford is attracting loan interest, but the idea, right now, is to keep him.

The Gunners are also expected to welcome back Karl Hein after he spent last campaign on loan at La Liga side Real Valladolid.

Hein signed a new contract before going out on loan and Arsenal's plan for him is uncertain.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are in the market for a new No.9. Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta has made signing a centre forward his prime concern, with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko both leading the race.

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