Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has refused to be drawn on his future after speculation that he could leave the Basque club for either Real Madrid or Arsenal.
The Spaniard made his debut for the national team against Costa Rica on Saturday, and he is seen as a hugely promising young keeper. The Gunners have been seeking a long term replacement for Petr Cech since the summer and reports in the Spanish press suggest Kepa is being targeted by the London club.
Speaking about his future to El Correo (translated by the Daily Mail), the stopper said he is calm about his situation and is not taking any notice of the transfer rumours:
“My only focus right now is with the national team. There’s nothing more I can say other than I am a player for Spain and for Athletic Club, nothing else matters to me. Of course I know of the rumours, I can see them and hear them, you know they exist but I know my situation better than that. They don’t make me nervous and I’m keeping calm.”
Kepa has been locked in contract talks with Bilbao for nearly a year, and although the two sides seem to have come to an agreement on a release clause of €75m, there is no sign of a compromise on salary demands with the goalkeeper demanding parity with the club’s top earners Aritz Aduriz and Aymeric Laporte.
