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Chelsea face transfer pressure as rival club launches bid for potential Kepa replacement
Chelsea are in danger of missing out on summer transfer target Andre Onana after Bayer Leverkusen have made an approach for the Ajax star.
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana shows off skill in training
Chelsea face competition from Bayer Leverkusen for Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana as the Blues line up a replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard is out of favour under Frank Lampard and was dropped for the Blues' final Premier League match of the season against Wolves on Sunday.
The decision to omit the world's most expensive goalkeeper has been taken by many as a sign that Kepa is set to leave Chelsea this summer, and the Blues have already been linked with a number of potential replacements.
However, the pressure is on the Stamford Bridge hierarchy to identify their preferred target and make a move after news that Bayer Leverkusen are stepping up their pursuit of Onana.
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The Ajax stopper has been on Chelsea's radar for several seasons, having played a significant role in both Ajax's run to the Europa League final in 2016/17 and their spectacular Champions League campaign last year.
But it is Leverkusen who have made the first official approach for the Cameroon international, according to De Telegraaf.
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The Bundesliga outfit reportedly offered €20million (£18.3m) plus bonuses for the 24-year-old, but this bid was immediately rejected by Ajax director of football Marc Overmars.
Onana has a bond with Leverkusen boss Peter Bosz, who was in charge at Ajax the stopper made his breakthrough into the senior team.
And this relationship could put a spanner in Chelsea's transfer plans as they look to secure a suitable replacement for Kepa.
Onana's shot-stopping ability and impressive distribution have put him high up on the Blues' list of targets, while his price has been severely impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
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Previously worth around €50m (£45.7m), Onana is now believed to command a fee in the region of €30m (£27.4m) with his contract due to expire in 2022.
Chelsea are thought to have been in regular contact with Onana's representatives during recent months and the player is said to be keen on joining Lampard's exciting project at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have already dealt successfully with Ajax over the transfer of Hakim Ziyech, with the Moroccan penning a £33.4m move back in February before moving to London this summer.
And Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has suggested Onana could be one of several other players who may leave Amsterdam this summer, mentioning that agreements have been put in place which would allow his star players to move if the right offer came in.
Leverkusen are believed to be only moderately happy with current No 1 Lukas Hradecky but missing out on Champions League qualification will harm their chances of beating Chelsea to Onana in a transfer tug-of-war.
But the Blues could turn their attention to a number of alternatives with Nick Pope, Dean Henderson and Jan Oblak all linked in recent weeks.
Atletico Madrid want £110m for the later so a deal would likely only be achieved if Chelsea recoup nearly all of the £71m fee they paid Athletic Bilbao for Kepa in 2018.
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