Sarri: I don't know anything about Chelsea buying Kepa

Reports have indicated Chelsea are closing in on the world-record purchase of Kepa Arrizabalaga, but Maurizio Sarri is giving nothing away.

Published : Aug 08, 2018 08:43 IST

Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri claims that he knows nothing about the club reportedly being ready to buy Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world-record fee.

The Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper is said to be close to joining the Premier League side after it agreed to pay Athletic his €80million release clause.

That would make Kepa the world's most expensive shot-stopper, eclipsing Alisson after the Brazil international's move from Roma to Liverpool last month.

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Kepa's arrival would likely free up Thibaut Courtois to join Real Madrid, the Belgian having entered the last year of his Chelsea contract, while making no secret of his desire to return to the Spanish capital, where he played on loan for Atletico Madrid from the Blues between 2011 and 2014.

But, speaking at a news conference after former England goalkeeper Rob Green starred in a penalty shootout win against Lyon on Tuesday, Sarri gave no clues as to the future of Courtois or Kepa.

"I don't know in this moment. I want to speak with my club and then, we will decide about it. I am here to talk about this match," Sarri told reporters of Courtois' reported absence from training this week.

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"If I don't know anything about Courtois, I don't know anything about Kepa, of course! I saw him a year ago. My first impression was that he is a very good goalkeeper, very young, but very, very good."

Hazard has also been linked with Madrid, as a potential replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo following the Portugal captain's €112m move to Serie A champion Juventus.

But, although the Belgium international has hinted regularly he would be interested in a switch to Spain, Sarri suggested Hazard - who scored the winning penalty against Lyon - will stay at Stamford Bridge.

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"I don't see this problem in this moment. I have spoken with Eden two or three times in the last two days. He has spoken of everything. I think this problem, the Hazard problem, is not present now," Sarri said.

Hazard wore the captain's armband when he came off the bench, but Sarri is not ready to decide whether the winger should be named skipper on a regular basis. "I don't know. We have to discuss about it. We want to speak with all the players," the former Napoli coach added.

"I want to speak with my staff and my club, and at the end, I will decide. But, today is my first day with all the players. I think I have to decide when I know better every player."

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