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Arsenal are set to complete their first signing of the summer transfer window this week, according to a report.
The Gunners are looking to improve their fortunes as they again went trophyless last season, finishing runners up in the Premier League and falling at the semi-final stage in the Champions League.
They are in their first window under new sporting director Andrea Berta, and have been chasing a striker as they look to plug a gap that has long escaped them at the top end of the pitch.
This week, though, according to BBC Sport, Mikel Arteta’s side will instead complete the signing of a goalkeeper that is expected to be back-up to David Raya.
That goalkeeper is Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined the Blues in 2017 but has had a difficult time at the club, and is now finally set to depart on a permanent basis.
If the move is completed, he will become the first Gunners signing of the summer and play back-up to countryman David Raya between the sticks.
Arsenal are set to complete their first signing of the summer this week – luring a Chelsea star
Kepa Arrizabalaga was on loan at Bournemouth last season but is now set to exit Chelsea fully
The Spanish stopper has a £5million release clause, having initially joined Chelsea for £72m
The 30-year-old – who has a staggeringly low £5million release clause – spent last season on loan with Bournemouth and kept eight clean sheets in his 31 Premier League appearances.
Back in 2018, the Blues splashed out £72m on Kepa to snap him up from Athletic Bilbao, which represented a world record fee for a goalkeeper.
Mikel Arteta is believed to be keen on hiring a deputy to his current No 1 in between the sticks. As such, Arsenal are close to making Arrizabalaga their latest arrival at the club ahead of bigger moves this summer.
Arrizabalaga’s meagre fee will see him move on from Chelsea for a fee around 14 times less than his initial move to the west London club.
Last in action for Chelsea in 2023, Arrizabalaga featured 163 times for the club, keeping 59 clean sheets and winning four major honours.
The Spaniard was also sent out on loan to Real Madrid in 2023, making 14 appearances.
After a successful loan spell, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola expressed an interest in keeping Arrizabalaga at the club.
‘I think it is a matter of negotiating with Kepa himself and with Chelsea,’ he said. ‘I think both sides are very happy with his loan spell.’
But it appears Arsenal have beaten the Cherries to Arrizabalaga’s signing, making the shot-stopper their first under Berta ahead of potential moves for the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres later on this summer.
