JAKARTA - Chelsea's patience with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga seems to have run out. To that end, they are considering Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as his replacement.
The 25-year-old player - becoming the first goalkeeper for the Spanish national team during Robert Moreno's La Furia Roja - has been replaced by Willy Caballero from the Chelsea main squad in recent weeks. Yet in the summer of 2018, the Blues paid Arrizabalaga's release clause of 80 million euros to take him from Athletic Club.
The Daily Express reported on Monday 9 March that Ter Stegen was the most likely choice to replace Arrizabalaga. The people in charge at Chelsea even believe the German can leave Camp Nou in the summer.
Frank Lampard has publicly criticized Arrizabalaga this season and the English manager is believed to be a big fan of Ter Stegen. However, the Barcelona goalkeeper is not the only name on Chelsea's list as they are also monitoring Ajax goalkeepers Andre Onana and Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan) who are also targeted by Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcelona, however, are determined to keep Ter Stegen as he is considered one of their most important players. In six matches in Europe's premier competition this season, former Borussia Monchengladbach star has conceded four goals and kept two clean sheets.
Ter Stegen has made 20 saves, 18 of which came from shots inside the box, and these numbers further prove how important he is to the team. No other goalkeeper has made that many saves in the Champions League so far this season.
Thibaut Courtois made eight saves, while Jan Oblak made six, and Keylor Navas and Alisson Becker made nine.
The latest news says, talks about the extension of the 27-year player's contract have been carried out, although there has not been a significant development as Barca wanted. Meanwhile, Chelsea are monitoring Ter Stegen's situation as they look to have the potential to make him leave Camp Nou.
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