Kepa Arrizabalaga should get a clean slate for this season as Chelsea will likely not rush to sign a new No.1, says Mark Bosnich.
Kepa hasn’t lived up to expectations since Chelsea made him the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in the world by signing him from Athletic Bilbao for an eye-dropping figure of €80m.
The error-prone Spaniard has largely been inconsistent for the Blues ever since. In fact, Frank Lampard dropped him for four Premier League fixtures in February as a result.
But while Kepa reclaimed his spot in goal, the mistakes returned with him. It led to calls for Lampard to search for a replacement this summer, with reports linking Ajax’s Andre Onana and even Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak to the Blues.
No new goalkeeper has arrived in west London, however, and it appears Kepa will remain the club’s first-choice. Especially in light of the big-money arrivals already made this summer.
Asked if this development has surprised him, Bosnich told Sky Sports: “Yes and no.
“I’m a little bit surprised because we talked at the end of last season about it being quite clear that Frank didn’t fancy the goalkeeper.
“No I’m not surprised because of the amount of money that they have spent on all of those other players.
“I’m sure if he could he would go and get another goalkeeper but I’m sure the club will have said ‘hold on a minute, we have spent a record amount on this goalkeeper – let’s give him an opportunity to prove you wrong’.
“If it means they have to go in the middle of the season or the end of next season to get another goalkeeper, so be it. I’m sure that will come into play.
“We have heard that the young goalkeeper who was on loan last season, young [Nathan] Baxter, will come into the frame as well. He could be the answer, we don’t know that.”
The former Blues keeper added: “The most important thing for Chelsea is that Kepa performs how he should do and then this talk will just go away.”
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