Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has delivered an update on his Chelsea future.
The Spaniard could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge this summer, with plenty of interest in the shot-stopper.
Ligue 1 side OGC Nice were the latest team to be linked with Kepa after Walter Benitez completed a move to PSV this summer.
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Thomas Tuchel confirmed towards the end of last season that he will hold talks with his goalkeeper regarding a potential move this summer.
“It depends what he wants and what his plans are,” Tuchel said last month over whether or not the Spaniard would remain at Chelsea next season.
“I know that we are very privileged to have Edou and Kepa in our squad but I also know for sure that Kepa is not happy about the situation because he deserved to play more and he can be a very strong number one.
"He arrived as a number one so the situation is not easy. He has been a fantastic team player since day one and never let anybody down.
“We did not have a conversation yet but I know that the goalkeeper coaches have these conversations at the moment and then we will take our time to speak with him and reflect on what’s best and what the possibilities are.
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"As a coach, of course I’m super happy to have both strong goalkeepers so let’s see.”
However, until now, Kepa had kept coy on his situation.
Speaking to Marca, Kepa has now opened up on his future at Stamford Bridge.
"At the end of the day, I'm at a very big club. I will talk to the coach and we will decide, but with the clear message that I want to play more,” he said.
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"Right now I'm a Chelsea player, but what is clear to me is that I want to play more, because I've come from a year or two where, when I've played, I've had great performances.
“"For the good performances I've had, the feeling is that I want more. I want to play more. I'm at #Chelsea and I want to succeed here. And if I can't, we would look at different things, because my clear objective is to play."
Kepa was then questioned about a possible return to Athletic Bilbao, where he joined Chelsea for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper under Maurizio Sarri.
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"You never know,” Kepa continued. “I have three more years of contract with Chelsea, and in football we don't even know where we are going to be tomorrow. We'll see what happens."
It remains to be seen as to what the future holds for Kepa, with the World Cup coming up in 2022.
Spain’s number one position is up for grabs, with Unai Simon, Kepa’s replacement at Athletic Bilbao, currently the preferred choice.
Therefore, Kepa could look for his Chelsea departure in the summer, whether it be a loan move or permanent transfer.
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Chelsea are close to announcing Chicago Fire's Gabriel Slonina as a summer signing, who will be sent out on loan rather than stay and take Kepa's place.
Topics: Chelsea, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Football, Transfers, Nice, Lazio, Thomas Tuchel
Nick Emms