Anybody who has had the dubious pleasure of discussing football with me knows I adore Athletic Bilbao. For its storied history. For the romantic, doggedly community-mined spirit which informs its player recruitment policy, often expressed reductively as ‘Basque only’. And for the astounding, uniquely engaging experience that was match day at San Mamés, the club’s now demolished home. Though largely anonymous in Australia – where Spanish football seems to barely exist beyond the Madrid-Barca duopoly – Athletic has re-emerged in the consciousness of the football public in recent days via Manchester United’s grab for its star midfielder, Ander Herrera. Frustrated in its pursuit of bigger names, and perhaps recalling his role in United’s 2012 Europa League exit, the football and marketing giant offered Athletic €30 million for Herrera as a last-minute consolation. I have no hesitation in declaring this offer to be quite generous indeed, … [Read more...] about Lessons in Man U’s rebuff by stubborn Bilbao
Bilbao
Chelsea agree world record £71.6m fee to sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea have agreed to pay a world record £71.6 million to replace Thibaut Courtois with Athletic Bilbao's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. With Courtois trying to force a move to Real Madrid by going AWOL, Chelsea have taken drastic action by paying Kepa’s Athletic Bilbao buy-out clause ahead of Thursday’s Premier League transfer deadline. The deal, which has been greeted by widespread astonishment, will also shatter Chelsea’s record that had stood at £57m for striker Alvaro Morata, who joined from Real last summer. The path of Courtois to Real is set to be further smoothed by the Liga club’s willingness to send midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a season-long loan to Chelsea. Along with Kepa, Kovacic is expected in London to complete a pre-deadline switch to Chelsea in what constitutes a frantic end to the transfer window. Spanish sources claim 23-year-old Kepa will fly to England at around 10am on Wednesday morning, having travelled … [Read more...] about Chelsea agree world record £71.6m fee to sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Reports: Chelsea agree world-record fee for Atheltic Bilbao goalkeeper
News 113 // 08 Aug 2018, 03:26 IST SHARE What's the story?Chelsea have agreed to pay a world record £71 million fee to replace Thibaut Courtois with Athletic Bilbao's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to several reports.With Courtois trying to force a move to Real Madrid by going AWOL, Chelsea have taken drastic action by paying Kepa’s Athletic Bilbao buy-out clause ahead of Thursday’s Premier League transfer deadline.In case you didn't know...Thibaut Courtois, who was on an extended holiday after his exploits at the 2018 World Cup where Belgium finished third, failed to report to training when he was due on Monday.The Belgian has been linked to a transfer to European giants Real Madrid in a £35 million move and has expressed his intentions to return to Madrid where he spent three years at Athletico Madrid in the past. He is on the last year of his contract and has rejected talks to extend … [Read more...] about Reports: Chelsea agree world-record fee for Atheltic Bilbao goalkeeper
Chelsea set to pay world record £71m for Athletic Bilbao keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Sport by Press Association August 7, 2018, 9:44 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Sport newsletter Chelsea are set to pay a world record fee for a goalkeeper of around £71million to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao, according to reports in Spain. The Blues have been heavily linked with a new number one due to uncertainty surrounding the future of Thibaut Courtois. Spanish website Marca reports that 23-year-old Kepa has flown to Madrid with his representatives and will arrive in London on Wednesday to sign a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge. He is believed to have a release clause of 80m euros (£71m) in his Athletic contract, which the Premier League club are apparently willing to meet. Maurizio Sarri’s Blues are under pressure to resolve their goalkeeping situation ahead of the new season with Courtois reportedly failing to turn up for training amid speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid. Should … [Read more...] about Chelsea set to pay world record £71m for Athletic Bilbao keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea agree world record £71m fee to sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea have agreed to pay a world record £71 million to replace Thibaut Courtois with Athletic Bilbao's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. With Courtois trying to force a move to Real Madrid by going AWOL, Chelsea have been moved to take drastic action and agree to pay Kepa’s buy-out clause ahead of Thursday’s Premier League transfer deadline. The path of Courtois to Real could be further smoothed by Real’s offer to send midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a season-long loan to Chelsea. Chelsea had budgeted for trying to sign a midfielder and a new goalkeeper in the remaining days of the transfer window, so the chance to get Kovacic without paying a fee may have freed cash to spend on Kepa. Stoke City’s Jack Butland and Sevilla’s Sergio Rico, both of whom would be considerably cheaper, have been on Chelsea’s radar but a move for Kepa gathered pace on Tuesday afternoon. With Chelsea indicating a willingness to meet his buy-out clause, … [Read more...] about Chelsea agree world record £71m fee to sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga