An Arsenal player could be swapping one bench for another this summer.
Inter Milan’s interest in Kepa Arrizabalaga was reported last month, with the Serie A side understood to be looking for a goalkeeper to replace the departing Yann Sommer.
Josep Martinez has established himself as Inter’s first-choice goalkeeper over the course of the season, so any incoming would be arriving as a backup.
Transfer journalist Matteo Moretto has confirmed as much on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel.
“There has been talk of Kepa, we talked about him too, but when we talked about Kepa at the time, we also said that [Ivan] Provedel was one of the top names as [Josep] Martinez’s backup, and he remains one of the top names,” Moretto said.
Will Kepa Arrizabalaga play another game for Arsenal?
“The idea is to keep Martinez first because Martinez has shown he has the quality to be Inter’s first-choice goalkeeper, but Inter still wants to partner him with a reliable goalkeeper.”
In other words, Kepa would be leaving Arsenal’s bench for Inter’s bench. Not sure whether that is a compelling enough reason to leave.
Kepa may end up staying at Arsenal this summer
Arsenal signed Kepa from Chelsea last summer for £5million, with a release clause inserted into the deal allowing him to leave if the club recoup that fee.
The Athletic has reported that if a compelling offer to be a number one elsewhere presents itself, Arsenal may need to enter the goalkeeping market.
But Inter’s proposal is not that. It is a backup role, arguably no different to the one he currently occupies at the Emirates, though he may back himself to usurp Martinez.
David Raya remains Arsenal’s undisputed number one, and Kepa has accepted that.
If his only realistic option this summer is to go and sit on another bench, the incentive to leave is limited.
Arsenal do have 20-year-old Tommy Setford as third-choice goalkeeper, but he is a prospect rather than a ready-made backup.
Should Kepa depart, Arsenal would need to act in the market. For now, though, that scenario looks less likely than it did.
Kepa may simply stay. There are worse places to be the second-best goalkeeper than the Premier League champions.
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