Chelsea outcast Kepa desperate to make Bournemouth loan transfer permanent after stunning season on South Coast
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA wants to make his loan move to Bournemouth a permanent one.
The world’s most expensive goalkeeper is on loan at Cherries from Chelsea until the end of the season.
The Spaniard is thriving as Andoni Iraola’s side chase European football next season.
The Prem’s smallest club are just a point behind Manchester City in seventh.
But they have conceded three fewer goals with Kepa between the sticks.
Kepa, 30, had offers from Saudi Arabia last summer but moved to the south coast instead when Andoni offered a 12-month deal.
He signed a one-year contract extension before leaving and Chelsea are happy he is playing well because it is bumping up his transfer value.
Even so, Bournemouth could not afford much more than £20m for a player who cost Blues £71.6million six years ago.
Kepa knows he has no future at Chelsea.
However, he rejected offers to go to Saudi for more money in order to prove himself in the Premier League.
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Bournemouth have signed US wonderkid Matai Akinmboni from MLS club DC United for around £1m.
The US youth, 18, defender will go into the club’s development squad.
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