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Chelsea have cheaper Jan Oblak transfer alternative who wants Premier League move
Chelsea could focus on signing Andre Onana instead of Jan Oblak with the Ajax goalkeeper keen on a move to the Premier League, according to reports.
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana shows off skill in training
Chelsea may choose to target Andre Onana instead of Jan Oblak as a replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga with the former reportedly open to a Premier League move. The Blues are currently assessing their goalkeeping options ahead of the summer transfer window with manager Frank Lampard having lost faith in his No 1.
Kepa became the world's most expensive goalkeeper when he joined from Athletic Bilbao for £71million in 2018, but the Spanish stopper has failed to live up to that price tag.
The 25-year-old was dropped on two separate occasions this season and appears to have played his final game for Chelsea with the Blues supposedly ready to take a loss in order to shift him off their books.
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A number of goalkeepers have been touted as potential replacements including Nick Pope, Dean Henderson and Atletico stopper Oblak.
However, Sky Sports claim Atletico Madrid have no intention of selling the Slovenian so the Blues would have to pay his £110m release clause if they wanted to push through with a transfer.
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Ajax ace Onana would therefore be a much cheaper option, with the same report suggesting the Cameroon international wants a move to the Premier League.
Onana 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.
Previously worth around €50m (£45.7m), Onana is now believed to command a fee in the region of €30m (£27.4m) due to the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Bayer Leverkusen have already seen an £18m offer rejected for Onana, who is under contract until 2022, although Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has previously said there is an agreement in place which would allow the stopper to leave if the right price is paid.
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The 24-year-old made 39 appearances in all competitions this season, although that total would have been more if the Dutch FA had not decided to curtail the Eredivise early due to the pandemic.
Chelsea are thought to have been in regular contact with Onana's representatives during recent months while the player's shot-stopping ability and impressive distribution will be appealing to Lampard.
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.
So the Stamford Bridge hierarchy will have high hopes of securing a deal for Onana, if they decide to lodge a formal bid.
As for Kepa, latest reports claim Chelsea are willing to listen to any offers over £50m – which represents a loss of around £20m on their investment.
The Blues are also considering sanctioning a long-term loan move for the Spanish international but are keen to offload at least some of the goalkeeper's £150,000-a-week wages
Meanwhile, Lampard is keen to finalise a deal for Kai Havertz in the near future with the German set to join international team-mate and recent signing Timo Werner in west London.
Chelsea also want a new left-back and are in the market for a centre-back as they look to address their defensive weaknesses.
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