Arsenal Set to Miss Out on Kepa Arrizabalaga With Bilbao Star on Verge of New Deal

Arsenal's hopes of making a move for Kepa Arrizabalaga have been dashed with the Athletic Bilbao star set to commit his future to the Basque club. Marca (via

Arsenal's hopes of making a move for Kepa Arrizabalaga have been dashed with the Athletic Bilbao star set to commit his future to the Basque club.

Marca (via talkSPORT) has alleged that the goalkeeper is close to agreeing a new contract worth £2.7m-per-season to remain with one of La Liga's most underrated sides - a result that will potentially leave the Gunners looking for other options.

There may be hope for Arsenal to reignite their interest in Arrizabalaga in the future, however, if they are willing to stump up the cash to activate the release clause fee in his new deal.

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Marca's report goes on to claim that the 23-year-old will have a clause worth £66.5m inserted into his contract at San Mames stadium, and Arsenal would have to break their club transfer record - currently held by Alexandre Lacazette - to snap him up.

Arrizabalaga, who has also interested Real Madrid in recent times, was linked with a move to Emirates stadium as the long-term successor to veteran Gunners shot stopper Petr Cech.

His current deal with Bilbao is set to expire at the end of the season, and led to speculation that the Ondarroa-born star would decide to embark upon a new challenge elsewhere.

Real Madrid and Arsenal target Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to sign new deal worth £2.7m-a-year with Athletic Bilbao.
( Src: Marca ) pic.twitter.com/Bj2eWy5sb1

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The highly-rated keeper, though, seems ready to extend his stay with Athletic for a few more seasons yet and will add to his 49 first-team appearances for his current employers in that event.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has Colombia international David Ospina as the current understudy to Cech, but the 30-year-old has often made mention of a desire to play more regular senior football instead of playing back up to his teammate.

With the 2018 World Cup under nine months away and Colombia on course to qualify, Ospina may want to move in January to cement his place on his country's plane to the tournament in Russia - a decision which could lead Wenger to explore other new goalkeeping options if he moves on from Arrizabalaga.