Real Madrid will reportedly open negotiations with Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga – who is out of contract in June – this week.
The Spain international is now free to discuss terms with other clubs due to being in the final six months of his contract, with Madrid reportedly willing to trigger his €20m release clause in January.
The Basque giants would be unwilling to negotiate any lower fee for the shot-stopper, according to Marca, while they are still holding out hope of the goalkeeper signing a new deal.
The 23-year-old has yet to win a cap for his national side but is now a regular deputy to David De Gea and is excelling at club level after long-standing Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz left for Girona.
Kepa would likely replace Keylor Navas as the first choice goalkeeper at Los Blancos, whilst it would almost certainly end the long-running speculation over a move for Manchester United’s De Gea.
