Should Chelsea consider cutting losses on world-record goalkeeper Kepa?

When Kepa Arrizabalaga moved to Chelsea 18 months ago, there was ample pressure on him from the outset. Previously, goalkeeping fees had been low compared to their outfield counterparts. That all changed in 2018 when Liverpool paid Roma £66.8m for Alisson. Four weeks later, that record was broken when the Blues paid Athletic Club £71.6m to land Kepa. 

When the previous record in Pounds Sterling had been Manchester City's decision to part ways with £35m to sign Ederson from Benfica in 2017, the huge jump in fee was always going to provide an additional level of scrutiny in an already high-pressure position. Yet while Alisson has shown incredible mental fortitude to not let the gargantuan fee affect his performances, Kepa has faltered time and time again between the Blues sticks. 

"I'm not looking at signing a goalkeeper now. I'm aware of the criticism, but I'm not affected by it. Kepa knows there have been mistakes that have cost goals. That's the nature of it and that needs to improve," Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said last week of his number one amidst links with Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope. 

Kepa was ultimately left out of the firing line for Chelsea's FA Cup win at Hull, though that was to be expected given Willy Caballero is the Blues' cup goalkeeper this season. The 25-year-old is set to return to the XI for Chelsea's trip to Leicester on Saturday, but should Lampard rush to bat away suggestions that the club are eyeing up a new goalkeeper? 

Chelsea were arguably forced into making a move for a new goalkeeper when it became clear Thibaut Courtois wanted out and had his heart set on a move to Real Madrid. The Belgian enjoyed a fine three years in the Spanish capital with Atletico Madrid and Chelsea's desperation for a new number one meant teams could charge over the odds for any shotstopper the London side showed an interest in. 

In this instance, Athletic Club demanded Chelsea pay Kepa's release clause in full, even if the capital club were being ripped off for the Spain international. And while Kepa didn't necessarily disappoint in his debut campaign in England - only Alisson (21) and Ederson (20) kept more clean sheets than Kepa (14) in the Premier League - his goalkeeper shortcomings have risen to the fore this season. 

Indeed, of goalkeepers to make more than 10 appearances, Kepa's save success rate of 56.2% is the worst in the Premier League this season. In Chelsea's recent 2-2 draw with Arsenal, the Gunners mustered just two shots on goal as he earned his lowest WhoScored rating in a top-flight match (5.45) since the 4-0 thumping at the hands of Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season (5.17). 

Of the five clean sheets he has kept in the Premier League this season, only one has come away from home, which doesn't bode well ahead of Chelsea's visit to a Leicester side sporting the Premier League's top goalscorer in Jamie Vardy (17 goals). Vardy doesn't have a great record against Chelsea, while he has failed to score in his last four home league appearances, admittedly playing just 43 minutes of their 4-1 win over West Ham last week, but the welcome of a Chelsea side that has shipped 20 away league goals this season - for context, Newcastle and Aston Villa (both 24) have conceded the most - bodes well for Vardy to get his Golden Boost quest back on track at the King Power Stadium. 

And considering only Manchester City (7.6) are conceding fewer shots per game than Chelsea (8.6) in England's top tier this term, Kepa needs to buck up his ideas as the Blues gear up for their trip to the third top home Premier League goalscorers on Saturday. While he isn't aided by a lack of protection in front of the defence, it's no wonder that Chelsea have been linked for a new goalkeeper this month, nor will it be a surprise if they firm up any rumoured interest for a new shotstopper in the summer.