‘Tell him to pack his belongings and leave my club immediately, because I DO NOT TOLERATE LAZY players…I can’t be paying high salary on Him and not benefiting from Him’: Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has ordered Pochettino that they must sell £60 million Star as soon as possible or risk losing their jobs
Chelsea is potentially facing a substantial financial hit as they contemplate parting ways with a record-breaking signing, which could result in a staggering £63 million loss compared to their initial investment.
Over the past three transfer windows, Chelsea has been extremely active in the transfer market, orchestrating high-profile departures, including the likes of Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, and Mateo Kovacic, in an effort to generate substantial funds for new player acquisitions.
Although these sales have reaped significant fees, amassing an impressive total of over £230 million, Chelsea is now deliberating whether to allow one player to leave at a considerable financial shortfall.
Spanish news outlet La Defensa reports that Real Madrid is keen on extending Kepa Arrizabalaga’s stay beyond his current loan spell and is ready to offer Chelsea a sum of £8.7 million for the Spanish goalkeeper.
Chelsea had initially secured Kepa’s services from Athletic Bilbao for a jaw-dropping £72 million in 2018, a transfer fee that set a record for goalkeepers. Despite a promising start that saw him win the Europa League in his debut season, the 29-year-old’s stint at Stamford Bridge has not lived up to the lofty expectations.
During Frank Lampard’s tenure, experienced goalkeeper Willy Caballero replaced Kepa as the starting choice, and it wasn’t until Chelsea brought in Edouard Mendy as their new No.1 that he regained his place in the team. However, this summer, both Mendy and Arrizabalaga left the club. Arrizabalaga made his way to Real Madrid to temporarily fill in for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
Apparently, Arrizabalaga’s performances at Los Blancos have left a positive impression on the Real Madrid hierarchy, as they are contemplating a permanent transfer next summer to serve as Courtois’ backup. Nonetheless, the proposed transfer fee is substantially lower, exceeding £63 million less than Chelsea’s original investment, potentially complicating the deal.
Despite the possibility of a significant financial loss, Chelsea, under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, has shown a readiness to allow players to depart the club in order to finance the acquisition of new, youthful talents. Presently, Robert Sanchez is Chelsea’s goalkeeper of choice, and manager Mauricio Pochettino has voiced his contentment with the Spanish goalkeeper, even after a recent blunder in a match against Arsenal. Pochettino acknowledged the mistake but remained supportive of Sanchez.
