7 Goalkeepers Chelsea Should Sign to Replace the Struggling Kepa Arrizabalaga

​Just 18 months after becoming the world's most expensive goalkeeper, it has all gone wrong for Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The Spaniard has endured a miserable run of form this season, which saw manager Frank Lampard drop him to the bench. and now it's even thought that​ he might never regain his spot in the team.

The Blues have been linked with a number of different players to replace Arrizabalaga, but here are seven names they should be looking at.

Spoiler: Nick Pope is not on this list. Of course he's not.


Dean Henderson

Dean Henderson

​Manchester United's Dean Henderson has long been viewed as a potential star of the future, and he has really lived up to that potential ​during his loan spells with ​Sheffield United.

At 22 years old, he already looks capable of holding his own in the top flight, and his best years are certainly still ahead of him. All the signs suggest that he could be set for a long, successful career.

At United, he will face the prospect of being benched by ​David de Gea, so the chance to have a genuine shot at first-team football at ​Chelsea might be too good to turn down. He also boosts the homegrown quota, of course.


Jan Oblak

Real Madrid CF v Club Atletico de Madrid  - La Liga

Right, let's get this one out of the way. Jan Oblak is probably the best goalkeeper in the world right now, and Chelsea know that. The ​Atlético Madrid man is thought to have rejected their advances in 2018, shortly before the Blues turned to Arrizabalaga.

He has since penned a new contract with a €120m release clause, but could Chelsea get him for a bit cheaper? Life hasn't been too great at Atlético this season, and it is by no means a guarantee that they will qualify for the ​Champions League. If Chelsea can hold on to the top four, they would become a whole lot more appealing.

This is the definition of a long shot, but it is definitely worth considering.


Ben Foster

Ben Foster

From one extreme to the other. In no way am I suggesting that Ben Foster is the long-term answer to Chelsea's struggles, but let's not act like he wouldn't be able to do a reliable job for the Blues.

The 36-year-old has been excellent for ​Watford this season and surely still has a year or two left in the tank. If Chelsea want a temporary option, they could do so much worse than Foster.

Even if they do look for a bigger name, Foster should still be brought in. He would be a fantastic backup and will likely be available for cheap as his contract is set to expire this summer. Everyone's a winner.


Gianluigi Donnarumma

Gianluigi Donnarumma

The fact that ​Gianluigi Donnarumma is only set to turn 21 in February is really something. It feels like he has been ​Milan's starter for the last 1,000 years.

The Italian is already one of the world's top shot stoppers, and he's only just getting started. He's no stranger to transfer speculation, but it might be time to turn those rumours into reality.

With Milan enduring a real fall from grace in recent years, keeping Donnarumma might soon be impossible. Add to that the fact that Milan have failed to meet Financial Fair Play regulations in the last few years, and there might just be a compelling case to try and sign the Italy international.​


Alex Meret

Alex Meret

​Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret is yet to really attract the attention he deserves from teams outside of Italy. 

Despite being just 22 years old, Meret is already one of the ​Serie A's most exciting goalkeepers, and many who have watched him will admit that his future looks incredibly bright. The likes of ​Inter and ​Juventus have been linked with him recently, but plenty of sides will soon take an interest.

Napoli's implosion has left them well down in the league table and a squad rebuild is necessary. Selling Meret might be the best way to fund that, and he may be willing to go as he is somehow still yet to cement a permanent place in the starting lineup.​


Thomas Strakosha

Thomas Strakosha

Staying in Italy, we now head over to Lazio to take a look at 24-year-old Albanian Thomas Strakosha​.

Since breaking through to the first team in early 2017, Strakosha has gone from strength to strength. He has helped Lazio establish themselves as outside contenders for the Serie A title, and both ​Liverpool and ​Tottenham Hotspur have looked at him in recent years.

A big move away from Lazio, where he is contracted until 2022, seems almost certain for the 24-year-old, and Chelsea would be wise to involve themselves in the situation.


Dominik Livaković

Dominik Livakovic

By far the biggest risk on this list, Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper​ Dominik Livaković is yet to test himself at the highest level, but all the signs suggest he would be able to hold his own.


The 25-year-old is one of the best goalkeepers playing outside one of Europe's top leagues, and many sides have realised that. Montpellier were close to signing Livaković last summer, while Manchester United were rumoured to see him as a potential replacement for De Gea during the Spaniard's downturn in form.


Signing the Croatia international would be a gamble, but the reward could be huge if Livaković can continue his impressive development.


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Source : 90min