Arsenal close in on first summer signing with cut-price deal for Chelsea flop

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal look set to complete their first signing of the summer transfer window after agreeing a cut-price fee for a forgotten Chelsea star.

Alongside signing a marquee goalscorer to lead the line, the Gunners have been keen to sign a backup keeper to provide cover for David Raya.

Neto has returned to Bournemouth after his season-long loan at the Emirates, while highly-rated teenagers Jack Porter and Tommy Setford arelikely to spend the coming season out on loan.

Arsenal had been heavily linked with a move for Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia, having previously failed with a bid to sign the Spaniard last summer.

The 24-year-old looks destined to leave his boyhood club this summer but, despite Arsenal’s renewed interest, he now looks to be on the verge of joining Espanyol’s local rivals Barcelona.

Forced to look elsewhere, Arsenal have instead moved quickly to secure a move for Chelsea outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to The Athletic.

Kepa signed for Chelsea from Athletic Club for a whopping £72million back in 2018, but is now set to move across London for just £5m due to buyout clause in his current contract.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to move to Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

The 30-year-old has made 109 Premier League appearances for the Blues but has spent the last two seasons away from the club on loan at Real Madrid and Bournemouth respectively.

The Spaniard will now join Arteta’s side to provide competition for Raya who has established himself as one of the league’s best keepers.

Arsenal legend urges Kepa to reconsider

The Spaniard will provide competition for his fellow countryman David Raya (Picture: Getty)

Kepa may appear happy to sit on the bench and challenge Raya for minutes, but former Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour said the Spaniard shouldn’t settle for a back-up role at this stage of his career.

‘It’s all on whether he wants to play, he’s not going to play at Arsenal is he?’ the former England midfielder told talkSPORT.

‘He’s going to be the No.2, do you want to be No.2? He’s obviously been No.1 at Bournemouth. If you’re Arsenal, you want to buy him because he’s a great No.2 to have.

‘But if you’re Kepa, you want to play unless you’re happy to sit on the bench but if I was a keeper at his age I’d want to play because you’ll regret it once you finish.’

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