Saudi club Al-Ittihad sent an official request to Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga and are waiting for a response from the Spanish according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
It's been a busy summer at Stamford Bridge with six new faces arriving at the club, but the Blues are reportedly still looking for a striker and striker.
Chelsea are also keen to offload a number of players, and having already sold Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchinson, the club hope to be able to move on for Arrizabalaga and Romelu Lukaku.
Kepa receives a gift from Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad had an initial bid for the 29-year-old rejected earlier this month, but reports have suggested the club are still in talks with Chelsea over a possible move.
The Spaniard has returned to pre-season training with the Blues, but is believed to be training away from the first team while his future is sorted out.
Galetti reported that Al-Ittihad sent the goalkeeper an official request for a long-term contract worth 7 million euros per year.
He took to X.com and said:
“#AlIttihad send a formal request to # But: long-term contract with salary set at €7m/y.
“I club is awaiting a response from GK. The conversations are always going on and on #Chelseawho consider him not in the plans: communication with PIF will continue.”
?? #AlIttihad send a formal request to # But: long-term contract with salary set at €7m/y. ??
? The?? the club is waiting for a response from ?? GK.
?? The conversations are always going on and on #Chelseathose who look at him outside the plans: contacts with PIF will continue. pic.twitter.com/DYxx3dwFma
– Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) July 16, 2024
Arrizabalaga spent last season on loan at Real Madrid where he made 20 appearances in all competitions and won La Liga and the Champions League.
Reports have suggested that a return to Madrid is completely off the table as Andriy Lunin has yet to sign a new contract which expires in 2025.
Chelsea made Arrizabalaga the world's most expensive goalkeeper when they paid Athletic Bilbao £71.6m in 2018 and he has made 163 appearances for the club.
The goalkeeper is in the final year of his contract and has probably played his last game for the club, while Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic will fight to be in Enzo Maresca's first team next season.
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