**Bournemouth Set to Sign Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga on Loan Deal**

Bournemouth are reportedly on the verge of signing Chelsea’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on a loan deal for the 2024-25 season. The Spanish goalkeeper was not included in Enzo Maresca’s plans, and it was previously revealed that he is training separately from the Blues’ first-team stars.

Kepa, who spent the last season on loan at LaLiga title holders Real Madrid, has attracted interest from several clubs, including Saudi sides. Chelsea were ready to offload the 29-year-old goalkeeper, with the Spaniard emerging as a top target for the Cherries, ahead of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale.

However, Kepa’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, meaning he would need to renew his deal before completing the transfer.

Bournemouth are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan

The situation has led to several players, such as Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga, reportedly being forced to train separately from the rest of the team while their club tries to find a suitable exit for all parties.

The Spaniard is among the players forced to train separately from the Blues’ first-team stars

The development comes after the Blues’ head coach, Enzo Maresca, previously expressed his frustration with Chelsea’s oversized squad. The Italian manager admitted that having so many players in the current team could be a problem, saying: ‘At the moment if I start to think I have 43 players it is not a good thing, I have 28 training with me’.

Throughout his career at Chelsea, the Spaniard made 163 appearances and conceded 175 goals. He joined the Blues from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for £72million, becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in football history.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper won the Champions League and LaLiga during his one-year loan spell at Real Madrid last season

Since returning from his one-year loan spell in the capital of Spain, it was evident that the goalkeeper’s future was away from Stamford Bridge. Despite winning the Champions League and LaLiga, Kepa lost his place in the team in the second half of the season, with Andrii Lunin becoming a regular starter.

During the beginning of his loan spell, the Spaniard expressed his desire to stay permanently at Los Blancos, saying, ‘I said it then and I still hope to stay.’