As per one of the latest reports by Metro, Atletico Madrid’s custodian Jan Oblak was the first-choice to replace Thibaut Courtois. In fact, Chelsea had reportedly triggered the release clause of £90m in Oblak’s contract with the La Liga giants but the deal failed to materialize.
The 25-year-old opted against the opportunity to make a switch to the ranks of the Premier League outfit as he was keen to continue working under the tutelage of Atletico Madrid’s manager Diego Simeone. As a result, the Blues turned their interest towards Kepa Arrizabalaga and lured him to the Stamford Bridge for £71m.
In the process, Arrizabalaga became the most expensive shot-stopper in the history. The Spanish international engineered a solid and commendable debut for his new side as they clinched a 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town at the Kirklees Stadium on Saturday.
Chelsea’s need for a proven goalkeeper emerged after Curtois forced his exit by going AWOL after his World Cup commitments with the Belgian national side. Besides, the report also states that Simeone’s camp is now ready to reward Oblak with a new contract, which would see his buyout clause rise to a whooping €250m.