Top five replacements of Kepa Arrizabalaga at Chelsea FC

The Spanish shot-stopper joined the club in 2018 on a seven-year deal.

Chelsea FC shelled out a world-record fee for a goalkeeper to bring Kepa Arrizabalaga to London in 2018 but the move hasn’t gone to plan. The Spanish shot-stopper has been frustratingly error-prone and has failed to convince between the sticks hitherto. His attitude has also been called into question with the incident in the Carabao Cup final last year where he defied the authority of Maurizio Sarri by refusing to come off in extra-time.

Moreover, his below-par performances have attracted severe criticism from the fans as well as the media. Chelsea could look to cut their ties with the Spaniard this summer and if they decide to do so, there won’t be a dearth of top-quality goalkeeping replacements they could target. On that note, let’s take a look at a few potential replacements for Kepa Arrizabalaga:

5. Mike Maignan (Lille)

First up on the list is highly-rated French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Having progressed through the ranks at PSG’s youth academy, he like countless other youngsters had to leave the club in search of first-team opportunities. Accordingly, after being sold to Lille in 2015, the 24-year-old quickly established himself as a prominent member of the French outfit and has consistently put in excellent performances over the last couple of campaigns.

He was instrumental in Lille’s qualification for the 2019-20 Champions League campaign as the shot-stopper kept 15 clean sheets in the 18-19 Ligue 1 season and was subsequently named the best goalkeeper of the year. Possessing laser-quick reflexes and admirable ability on the ball, Maignan is the archetypical modern goalkeeper and would be another excellent addition to a youthful Chelsea side.

4. Thomas Strakosha (Lazio)

Ever since breaking into the first team at Lazio, Thomas Strakosha has looked at home in between the sticks and has quickly garnered plaudits for his dependable performances at the back. Lazio has the best defensive record in Serie A this season and the Albanian goalkeeper should take plenty of credit for that achievement.

Thomas has conceded a mere 23 goals in 26 matches and has kept nine clean sheets in the league, helping the Italian club to challenge the hegemony of Juventus. He has also caught the attention of several clubs across Europe, including the likes of Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea. The custodian has all the qualities required to succeed in the Premier League and would be an extremely shrewd acquisition in the current market.   

 3. Nick Pope (Burnley)

Nick Pope has gone from strength to strength after receiving his breakthrough at Burnley when Tom Heaton went down with a shoulder injury back in September 2017. Since then, the English goalkeeper has become an important presence in their backline and has made 64 appearances for the Clarets. He has taken his performances up a notch this season as the 28-year-old has recorded the highest number of clean sheets with 11 shut-outs under his belt, including five in his last nine Premier League games.

The English international is well-versed with the rough and physically demanding nature of English football after having plied his trade in the lower leagues during the formative years of his career. He boasts laudable shot-stopping skills but needs to work on his ball-playing prowess. Having said that, he has made massive strides in his development this year and could be ready to take the next big step in his career.

2. Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

It is almost easy to forget that Gianluigi Donnarumma is still just 21 and broke into the first team at one of the most prestigious Italian clubs at the age of 16 and has already spent five years at the highest level. Out of all the options so far, he is certain to cost the most even after taking the current circumstances and the one-year remaining in his contract into consideration.

Moreover, his relationship with the Milan faithful isn’t very harmonious and hence he could be tempted to entertain the possibility of a change in scenery. He is undeniably one of the most exciting young prospects in world football and still has plenty of years to hone his craft. The Italian is physically imposing and can hold his own in the box, a quality that will serve him well should he move to England. Signing Donnarumma might require the Blues to spend a sizable fee on the Italian but it might prove to be an astute investment given his age-profile and enormous potential.

1. Andre Onana (Ajax)

Andre Onana was a key part of the Ajax team that embarked on a fairytale run to the semis of the UEFA Champions League last season. He didn’t receive the heightened level of attention that some of the other younger stars in the side like Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt had attained but nonetheless, his quiet dependable displays caught the eye of a myriad of top European sides.

The 24-year-old is a superb passer of the ball that enables him to initiate attacks from the back and unfailingly offers himself as a passing alternative in the early build-up phase. With almost all top sides preferring to construct attacks from the defence, it is a highly valuable quality to possess and hence his presence would certainly enhance the Blues ability to smoothly play out from the back. Considering his outstanding technical prowess, intelligent positioning, and his assured demeanour in goal, he would be the ideal candidate to replace the hapless Spaniard at Chelsea.

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