Todd Boehly's Chelsea transfer strategy has attracted widespread criticism (Image: Getty)
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly will be forced to accept a monumental loss on Kepa Arrizabalaga even if all goes according to the Blues' transfer plan. Kepa joined Bournemouth on loan this summer with a view to securing a permanent exit away from Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca is already blessed with options between the Chelsea sticks. Robert Sanchez has started the season as his first choice, with new signing Filip Jorgensen forced to play back-up.
Mike Penders has agreed to join up with the club next summer, while Djordje Petrovic and Gabriel Slonina have departed on loan. That left Kepa with no choice but to seek a move away, and Chelsea were in no position to recoup anything like the world-record £72million fee they splashed on the Spaniard in 2018.
To avoid Kepa leaving for free when his original contract was due to expire in June 2025, Boehly and co. tied him to a 12-month extension on lower wages. According to The Athletic, the agreement also includes a measly £5m release clause.
That clause will reportedly become active next summer if a number of attainable conditions are met during his time at Bournemouth. Even if Kepa convinces the Cherries to pursue a permanent move, Chelsea will have to shoulder a whopping £67m loss.
The stopper became the most expensive goalkeeper in history after only two seasons in Athletic Bilbao's first team. Two campaigns in Chelsea's starting XI followed, but after slipping down the pecking order in 2020/21, he never re-established himself on a consistent basis.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan (Image: Getty)
Kepa joined Real Madrid on loan last season and made no secret of the fact he wanted to join them permanently even though he was still on Chelsea's books.
"I'm very proud to be at Real Madrid," he said. "I'll never be short of hard work, commitment and effort with this jersey both in training and in matches. Will I stay after the loan? Hopefully. We'll see. Hopefully with my performance I can make that happen."
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Things started well for the 29-year-old but he fell out of favour with Carlo Ancelotti midway through the season, and Real took no action once his loan expired. This term's link-up with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola offers fresh promise.
The pair were at Athletic Bilbao together during Iraola's playing days and Kepa looks set to stamp his authority on the starting line-up, with the out-of-favour Mark Travers his only competition.
