Due to the current uncertainty in the world, Chelsea will not be able to offload Kepa Arrizabalaga. That chance will not stop the club from signings.
For the last few months, especially when Kepa Arrizabalaga was dropped, the rumors about Chelsea buying a new keeper kicked off. Even with Arrizabalaga’s return to the starting XI (in somewhat better form even), the rumors did not go away.
But COVID-19 has changed the equation in more ways than one. Many clubs simply cannot afford to make the moves they were planning on making previously. That means an expensive keeper, if only for his previous transfer fee, is simply out of reach for the vast majority of clubs.
So Arrizabalaga will get his chance but that does not mean the Blues will not or should not buy a new keeper. Willy Caballero is sure to depart and if this season has taught anything, it is that Chelsea needs a challenger for Arrizabalaga’s right to the XI.
Who Chelsea is looking at changes depending on the flavor of the day. There are the young options from abroad that could push Arrizabalaga out as much as challenge him in Gianluigi Donnarumma or Andre Onana. There are also the closer to home options of Nick Pope or Ben Foster.
Chelsea is pretty well off when it comes to homegrown and club trained players thanks to Frank Lampard’s youth revolution, so Donnarumma and Onana would very much have a spot. The former would be a big name signing that would very much challenge Arrizabalaga right away. Onana is allegedly cheap at £35 million and is one of the game’s best up and coming keepers.
Pope is entering the prime of a goalkeeper and would offer a homegrown option if Chelsea wanted to use their non homegrown spots elsewhere. Foster is on the (much) older side, but both keepers could come in and do a job if Arrizabalaga is proving unable.
Of the four, Onana seems like the no brainer option. A player at £35 million of that quality is a must buy. Chelsea has a good working relationship with Ajax as well and if Onana is willing to leave, Ajax may be willing to push him Chelsea’s way.
Donnarumma simply seems to expensive and would likely require some sort of outright swap with Arrizabalaga. That would still leave Chelsea needing a backup keeper. Foster can do the job, but his age means he will not be long for the role. Pope would be the second best choice after Onana, but the club would have to convince him to leave a guaranteed starting role for a battle in a difficult position.
Regardless, someone is coming in to challenge Arrizabalaga. Even with the price tag he came in for, it is excellent for Chelsea to be looking at two top keepers at once. The best clubs in Europe have that situation and arguably the closest Chelsea got to it in recent years was with Asmir Begovic.
Arrizabalaga may be staying, but he will have his work cut out for him when play resumes and a new season begins.