Kepa Arrizabalaga says he will head into discussions with Thomas Tuchel over his Chelsea future with the clear message that I want to play more .
Chelsea splashed a world-record fee for a goalkeeper when they signed Kepa from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6m on a seven-year contract in 2018 as a replacement for the outbound Thibaut Courtois.
Edouard Mendy arrived at Stamford Bridge two years later, joining on a five-year deal from Rennes to provide competition to Kepa, who played more than 30 Premier League games in each of his first two seasons.
Mendy then emerged as Tuchel s first-choice goalkeeper, with Kepa limited to just seven Premier League appearances in the 2020-21 season and only four the following league campaign.
The Spain international was utilised in cup competitions by Chelsea, missing a penalty in the EFL Cup final loss to Liverpool after being brought on in extra time for the shoot-out.
Kepa does not want to settle for being a backup option, though, and told Marca he will hold conversations with Tuchel over his future.
I m excited, ambitious, eager to start, to enjoy myself and, above all, to play more. I want to be on the pitch more, the 27-year-old said.
The conversation with him [Tuchel] is easy; on a day-to-day basis, he is totally accessible to the players. Personally, I notice the affection and confidence he has in me.
Obviously, I want to play more. It s true that he s giving another teammate [Mendy] a lift, and that s what I m trying to change in my day-to-day life; I want to play, and that s what I m training and preparing for.
Right now, I m a Chelsea player, but what I know is that I want to play more because, after a year or two where, when I have played, I have had a great return.
I m not desperate. At the end of the day, I m at a very big club… I ll talk to the coach, and we ll decide, but with a clear message that I want to play more.
