Real Madrid scouters are still looking for a new goalkeeper for the next season. Right now, the best option is Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is still closer to the Spanish capital because he hasn’t reached an agreement with his current club, Athletic Club, and his contract expires in June 2018.
Kepa is one of the best goalkeepers in Spain and he is still very young, 23 years old. Despite his age, he has made his debut with the Spanish national team and right now is one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga. Athletic Club is struggling this season, but Kepa is one of the great news, saving many points for the Basque team.
Recently, Bahia Internacional, the agency representing the player, had a meeting with Josu Urrutia, Athletic Club chairman, to try to reach an agreement to extend the goalkeeper’s contract. However, the positions are still very far and the deal is not close to be sealed. The club wanted to include a €100M release clause in his contract and the player refused. Now it looks like there is an agreement for €75M, still a very high release clause.
But the main problem is the money. Always the money. Athletic Club usually pay very well to their players, but they are offering Kepa less money than other stars of the team, like Aduriz or Laporte, according to the Spanish newspaper MARCA. This is the main issue in the negotiations and the parts are still far from each other.
Florentino Pérez is being looking for a new goalkeeper during the last two years. Initially, he wanted to sign David de Gea and the deal was almost done but the paperwork didn’t arrive on time. Keylor Navas stayed and won two Champions League, so the club decided to back him, especially Zinedine Zidane. However, there is still a problem in the goal, especially with Keylor Navas injured and Kiko Casilla far from the level of a goalkeeper at Real Madrid. Perhaps this summer Real Madrid fans can welcome one of the best goalkeepers in Spain.
