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An injury to Thibaut Courtois has forced Real Madrid to dip into the transfer market in search of a goalkeeper.
Real Madrid have decided to pursue a loan move for Kepa Arizzabalaga despite David de Gea being a free agent.
De Gea was close to joining Madrid in 2015, but a move never materialised, and had the perfect chance to land the move eight years later after he confirmed his exit from Manchester United.
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13:26 - 13.08.2023
FOOTBALL Kylian Mbappe: PSG swallow their pride and return wantaway French forward to first team squad
The French champions have made a turnaround over their stance regarding Mbappe who has been the subject of transfer speculation all summer
Thibaut Courtois’ shock injury on the eve of the LALIGA season has left the club scrambling for a replacement with Andriy Lunin the only fit senior goalkeeper at the club.
The 24-year-old Ukraine international started the opening game at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night, a game Madrid won 2-0 with the custodian keeping a clean sheet.
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10:49 - 13.08.2023
FOOTBALL Kakamega Homeboyz unshaken for continental challenge despite Gor Mahia setback
Odhiambo reveals what Homeboyz needs to work on if they are to do well against Al Hilal in the Confederation Cup following the Shield trophy loss to Gor Mahia.
Although Lunin has always been held in higher esteem among those who work in Madrid’s offices, the coaching staff, have had their doubts about him according to The Athletic.
This, in addition to the inexperience of Canizares, 21, and Pinero, 19, as well as 18-year-old Fran Gonzalez, who traveled with the squad in pre-season, means Madrid are not ruling out bringing in a new face to compete with Lunin for a starting spot.
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18:19 - 12.08.2023
Diego Forlan: Manchester United are reaching Man City level legend claims
Ex-Manchester United star Diego Forlan believes Manchester United can reach the current level of Manchester City.
Lunin has already been told by the club they have confidence in him but that they will bring in a goalkeeper because a year without Courtois is too much of a risk.
This is the reason they have decided to move ahead to pursue a deal for the Spain international, who has endured an inconsistent spell in five years at Stamford Bridge.
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22:59 - 12.08.2023
Has Nicolas Jackson’s Chelsea start created a conundrum for Mauricio Pochettino?
Nicolas Jackson's commendable preseason suggests the new Chelsea arrival should start the Premier League season as the club's central striker. However, the prospect of an injury could leave Mauricio Pochettino's team in dire straits.
A number of alternatives had been speculated including De Gea and Sevilla’s Moroccan international Yassine Bounou, but Madrid have decided to pursue the Kepa option.
Courtois has been a constant presence for Real since joining from Chelsea in 2018. He has played 230 times for the Spanish club, winning two LALIGA titles and one Champions League.
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16:56 - 12.08.2023
Awoniyi equals 28-year record with goal against Arsenal
Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi scored against Arsenal to equal a Nottingham Forest record set in 1995
Chelsea signed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this summer with new boss Mauricio Pochettino saying on Friday he was expecting “a very good competition” between him and Kepa for the number one spot.
Kepa regained his place as Chelsea’s first choice following an injury to Edouard Mendy last season. He played 39 times for Chelsea and was largely solid in what was a disappointing campaign overall for the West London side.
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13:00 - 13.08.2023
Decoding the trend: Why corporate football clubs are winning big, as told by Dan Shikanda
Shikanda has revealed the real reason coorporate clubs like Tusker have made it impossible for community clubs like AFC Leopards to attrack the country's best players making it difficult for them to compete for the title.
He joined Chelsea in 2018 for a world-record £ 71 million fee for a goalkeeper. He initially lost the number one spot at the club during Frank Lampard’s second season in charge, when Mendy was brought in from Rennes. Mendy joined Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli in June.
In the winter of 2018, Chelsea’s Kepa was still at Athletic Bilbao and looked close to joining Madrid before then-manager Zinedine Zidane put the brakes on the transfer and, eventually, Thibaut Courtois was signed instead the following summer.
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09:06 - 12.08.2023
3 mistakes Arsenal must fix to win the Premier League
Mikel Arteta’s men lost the Premier League title to Manchester City after a bad run in the final ten games last season.
This implies that Madrid still hold him in high esteem, which is the reason they have ignored De Gea despite being a free agent.
Given De Gea's free agent status, a move to Madrid eight years after his ill-famous failed switch to the Spanish giants would make sense, but two other factors suggest the opposite.
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10:00 - 20.07.2023
OPINION: Kenya must invest in youth and grassroots football to become a regular World Cup and AFCON side. This is why
If Harambee Stars is to qualify for its first ever World Cup and always go far at the AFCON, this is why it must invest in youth and grassroots football.
First, there is the context behind his failed move to Real back in 2015. De Gea was on the brink of a transfer from United but it fell through with the late delivery of documents beyond the deadline.
However, what happened was interpreted elsewhere as a sign that Madrid ultimately did not have confidence in the Spanish goalkeeper. De Gea does not have a good memory of the experience.
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12:10 - 12.08.2023
Real Madrid set to battle Bayern Munich for Chelsea star
European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are set to lock horns over Chelsea shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Another factor is that at United, De Gea was earning more than any player in the current Madrid squad and it has been rumoured that he has an even more lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia on the table, which the Spanish club would find impossible to match.
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