Chelsea's £71m backup goalkeeper wants to join former manager in Serie A

Chelsea broke the goalkeeper transfer record and club record in 2018 to sign Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao after the departure of Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who left the Blues for Real Madrid after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Chelsea paid £71m for Kepa Arrizabalaga gave him a seven years contract worth £190,000 a week and immediately handed him the number 1 jersey to show how much belief the club and new manager Maurizio Sarri had in him. He had a good first season helping the club win the 2019 UEFA Europa League, instrumental in the semi-final penalty shootout against Eintracht Frankfurt.

His second season however proved difficult under new manager Frank Lampard, he miserably lost form and conceded the most goals by a top club goalkeeper and had the worst save percentage in Europe's top five leagues. His form became a cause of concern and lost his place to backup Argentine goalkeeper Wily Caballero.

Chelsea signed Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy at the beginning of last season and he has held down the starting berth. Kepa, however, made himself a hero in the UEFA Super Cup shootout, he saved two penalties and helped Chelsea win. It is now believed his time is over as he wants to join Maurizio Sarri at Lazio.