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Chelsea transfer roundup 1 January to 9 January 2022

By ROSHAAN KAPOOR

BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 24: Sergino Dest of FC Barcelona (L) vies with Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid (R) during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou in Barcelona on October 24, 2021 (Photo by Adria Puig/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 24: Sergino Dest of FC Barcelona (L) vies with Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid (R) during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou in Barcelona on October 24, 2021 (Photo by Adria Puig/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea celebrate during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea celebrate during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

5. Lazio faces a stumbling block in signing Kepa Arrizabalaga

Despite their differences stemming from past incidents at Chelsea, Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri is very much interested in signing goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga away from the Blues, but he faces the major stumbling block of his high wages. The 27-year-old became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world when he made his move from Athletic Bilbao to west London in the summer of 2018. However, ever since his move, the Spanish goalkeeper has struggled to make his mark at the club as he’s now been demoted to No. 2 behind the brilliant Edouard Mendy.

In his first season, Arrizabalaga helped the club win its second Europa League title and kept 23 clean sheets throughout the campaign, conceding less than a goal per game on average. Nevertheless, after the appointment of Frank Lampard, the Spaniard was particularly error-prone. His performances deteriorated so much that the manager opted to play veteran back-up Willy Caballero instead of Arrizabalaga. He ended the 2019/20 season with only 10 clean sheets, conceding more than a goal per game on average. This prompted the club to buy the aforementioned Senegalese shot-stopper, Mendy.

Now, with the Spanish international remaining second fiddle behind Mendy, there has been a lot of speculation regarding Arrizabalaga’s future at the club. According to The Athletic, Lazio is keen to bring Arrizabalaga to Italy before the end of this month, but the Italian side is finding it difficult to afford his substantial wages. The goalkeeper is reported to be earning £170,000 per week, so suffice it to say, Sarri’s side cannot afford to pay his wages for a proposed loan move. Regardless of the interest, it would simply make no sense for the Blues to offload Arrizabalaga right now when Mendy is gone on international duty at the African Cup of Nations. If anything will happen regarding Arrizabalaga’s future, expect it to happen in the summer rather than right now.

Next. The curious case of Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic. dark

Who do you think the Blues need to bring in during the January transfer window? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

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