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Chelsea transfer blow as agent of potential Kepa replacement hints at £74m price tag
Chelsea will be forced to break the bank if they replace Kepa Arrizabalaga with Juan Musso in the summer.
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Chelsea are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper as they look to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga but any potential signing is unlikely to come cheap. The Blues have been linked with a host of expensive stoppers and now Juan Musso’s agent has suggested the Udinese star could also command a huge fee.
Kepa became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for £72million in 2018, but the Spaniard was dropped by manager Frank Lampard earlier this season following a poor run of form.
The 25-year-old has been touted for a move to Real Madrid this summer while the Blues have been linked with Jan Oblak, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andre Onana and Dean Henderson.
With all four replacements expected to cost upwards of £50m, Udinese ace Musso was considered a more affordable option with a valuation of just £27m.
However, the Argentine’s agent has now suggested his client will command a similar fee to that of Kepa, Thibaut Courtois and Gianluigi Donnarumma – should the AC Milan prodigy leave the San Siro.
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Speaking to Calciomercato, Vicente Montes places Musso among the top three goalkeepers in Serie A alongside Samir Handanovic and Donnarumma and claims the 25-year-old is destined to move to a big European team.
When asked to confirm whether Inter Milan have made contact over a move, Montes said: “Confirming something today would be irresponsible.
“However, we must recognize that several teams from various leagues are following him closely.
“It is obvious that, with his age, with two seasons in Europe behind him, with an Italian passport, demonstrating quality and professionalism, Musso is destined to become the goalkeeper of a great European team.”
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Montes revealed that some unnamed Serie A sporting directors have asked about Musso, and believes the Udinese stopper should be valued in the same price bracket as his potential predecessor Kepa.
“Goalkeepers have acquired great value in the market given their great importance in the current game and if you analyse the ten best goalkeepers in the world, nobody will reach 30 years [old],” he said.
“It is obvious that Juan will be the goalkeeper of a great European in the near future.
“The value on the market is something so relative. If Kepa cost Chelsea €80m (£74m), Courtois more or less the same amount and Donnarumma is €100m (£92m), how much is Juan Musso worth?”
Montes’ figures are slightly off, with Kepa costing slightly less than £74m while Courtois reportedly only set Real Madrid back £35m and Donnarumma is valued at just under £50m on Transfermarkt.co.uk.
But his comments do suggest Musso will not be available for as cheaply as Chelsea would hope, although his contract at Udinese does expire in 2021.
The Serie A club may therefore be willing to cash in this summer if they are unlikely to agree an extension.
Lampard is yet to completely close the door on Arrizabalaga staying at Chelsea next season and refused to be drawn on speculation earlier in the season.
“I have read a lot of false articles, probably guessing on players,” he said recently
“Every time I see a Chelsea player put on the shirt they are in control of their own destiny somewhat individually.
“You can’t always control collectively the result. All I am focusing on is game by game to get the best finish to the season that we can possibly get.
“Then of course there are decisions for the club ongoing in the summer, we have to look at that.
“But no way am I jumping forward to the future now and a lot of those reports are wrong.”