Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga - currently on loan at Bournemouth - has confirmed that he will be holding talks with the Blues over his future in the next few weeks.
The world's most expensive shot-stopper has found safe haven at the Vitality Stadium during the 2024-25 season, making 24 Premier League appearances for the Cherries and keeping five clean sheets.
Kepa's efforts initially had Andoni Iraola's men in the conversation for Champions League football, but their European prospects have now suffered several blows in a six-game winless run, during which the Spaniard has conceded at least two goals on five occasions.
The Blues loanee shipped another pair of efforts in Saturday's 2-2 stalemate with West Ham United, a result that left Bournemouth 10th in the Premier League standings and five points adrift of the top seven.
Despite Kepa's drop-off in form in recent weeks, the 30-year-old is still believed to be wanted by Bournemouth in a permanent deal, but Iraola's men do not have a buy option or obligation written into his loan agreement.
Kepa "in touch with everybody" amid Chelsea uncertainty
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Following Saturday's draw with West Ham, Kepa was asked by The Mirror about his next career move, to which he responded: "Obviously what I can say is that I'm really happy and I'm enjoying my playing time here. I think I'm showing that and I'm feeling well on the pitch.
"It's not the time to think about the future, we're going to take the decision, we're in touch with everybody and now I'm under contract with Chelsea. We have some conversations to have, they will happen in the next few weeks and then we'll decide."
Kepa only has a contract at Stamford Bridge until the end of next season, meaning that the upcoming window is likely Chelsea's last chance to recoup a good chunk of the £72m they paid for his services back in 2018.
The Spain international has managed a respectable 59 clean sheets in 163 appearances for the Blues in that time, but the consensus is that he has failed to justify his world-record price tag.
Kepa was also loaned out to Real Madrid for the 2023-24 season after Thibaut Courtois's injury, winning his second Champions League title, but he did not play a single minute in the knockout rounds.
Could Kepa still have a future at Chelsea?
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The Chelsea goalkeepers' succession plan has not gone at all to plan since Edouard Mendy's decline and subsequent exit, as neither Robert Sanchez nor Filip Jorgensen have cut the mustard this season.
Sanchez has retained Enzo Maresca's backing as his number one, but the ex-Brighton & Hove Albion man has made five errors directly leading to a goal in the 2024-25 Premier League, more than any other player.
If Kepa can excel between now and the end of the campaign, it would be understandable if Maresca wanted to assess him in pre-season, but a sale makes the most sense from a business point of view.
The £72m man will surely not be offered the chance to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea are expected to pursue a fresh face in between the posts if their finances allow it this summer.
Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel has been linked with a switch to West London, as has a Serie A goalkeeper whom Chelsea could apparently sign in a 'bargain' deal.
Ben Knapton
