Chelsea settled for Kepa Arrizabalaga as second choice last summer | OneFootball

Chelsea may have spent a world record fee for a goalkeeper last summer but it has emerged that Kepa Arrizabalaga was second choice.

A new transfer record was set when they splurged €80m to sign the 24-year-old from Athletic Bilbao.

However, it was another LaLiga star who the Blues were more eager to sign.

According to Mundo Deportivo, they had identified Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak as their prime target.

Chelsea reportedly made it clear to the Rojiblancos that they were willing to pay €100m to get their man.

On hearing of Chelsea’s intent, Atletico chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil immediately made it clear Oblak was not for sale.

Gil phoned the agent of the Slovenian instantly in an attempt to keep him at the club.

Oblak has since penned a contract extension at the Wanda Metropolitano on a bumper new deal.

In his debut campaign in England, Kepa has helped Chelsea into the Europa League semi-final.