Real Madrid is working on a deal to sign Spanish international goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea.
A sudden injury to Thibaut Courtois on the eve of the La Liga season caused the club to scramble to find a replacement with Andriy Lunin the only suitable goalkeeper at the club.
The 24-year-old Ukraine international is set to start the opener at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night.
A number of replacements have been speculated including former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea and Sevilla’s Moroccan international Yassine Bounou.
However, Kepa, 28, has emerged as the club’s favored option.
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Courtois has been a constant presence for Real since joining from Chelsea in 2018. He played 230 matches for the Spanish club, winning two La Liga titles and the Champions League once.
Chelsea signed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this summer, with new boss Mauricio Pochettino saying on Friday he expects “very good competition” between him and Kepa for the number one spot.
Kepa has regained his place as Chelsea’s first choice following Edouard Mendy’s injury last season. He made 39 appearances for Chelsea last season and was largely solid in an overall disappointing season for the West London club.
He joined Chelsea in 2018 for a world record fee of £71m for a goalkeeper. He first lost the club’s first place during Frank Lampard’s second season, when Mendy was brought in from Rennes. Mandy joined the Saudi professional league Al-Ahly team in June.
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