Chelsea preparing clever deal for Champions League winner: report

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 23: Enzo Maresca Manager of Chelsea FC at Levi's Stadium on July 23, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lyndsay Radnedge/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Chelsea have been the most active English club in the transfer market this summer, making six signings in total.

The latest deal they're touted to complete could be the best of the lot, however, as a Champions League winner could be heading to Stamford Bridge.

What makes this even more of a surprise is the nature of the deal, as the Chelsea hierarchy look set to make a clever, astute deal in the window.

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According to Spanish outlet AS, Chelsea are looking to offer Real Madrid their goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in exchange for Andriy Lunin. 

Kepa, of course, spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, filling in for the injured Thibaut Courtois. After 10 consecutive games in goal for Carlo Ancelotti, though, Lunin quickly overtook him in the pecking order, with the Ukrainian playing the majority of the rest of the season.

Indeed, Lunin started every game in the Champions League knockout stages - except the final, which Courtois returned for - as Real Madrid lifted their 14th trophy in the competition. Real Madrid's £25m valuation is deemed too high by Chelsea, however, while Lunin himself wants to leave the Bernabeu in search of guaranteed minutes. 

Andriy Lunin of Real Madrid CF Chelsea celebrates after his team mate Vinicius Junior scores the first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Lunin played well at Madrid last term (Image credit: Flor Tan Jun/Getty Images)

The report suggest that such is Chelsea's desire to land the 25-year-old, they're willing to offer Kepa, who cost them £72m in 2018, in exchange for Lunin. Real Madrid, though, are seeking cash-plus-player, with Lunin valued higher than the Spaniard.

That seems justified, too. Transfermarkt believes Lunin is worth £21m, while Kepa is valued at just £10m. Crucially, though, the Spaniard is reportedly happy to act as Courtois' back-up, despite the 29-year-old approaching key years in his career.

In FourFourTwo's view, this doesn't seem like a deal that will happen this summer - despite it making clear sense for all parties involved. Currently, it looks like the Blues are set to land Filip Jorgenson from Villarreal instead - but should that deal fall through, we expect the Chelsea hierarchy to make a push for Lunin.

Kepa Arrizabalaga Chelsea goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge

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Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.