Newcastle deal for £71m Premier League star 'can't be ruled out'

You can’t completely rule out Newcastle signing Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The goalkeeper has slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons and has been linked with a move to St James’ Park.

According to the Daily Star, the Magpies are interested in signing the Chelsea shotstopper, who was initially brought in as first-choice when he joined for £71m back in 2018 but is nothing more than an understudy to Edouard Mendy at present.

He has played more than 100 games for the Champions League holders, but Mendy’s arrival has restricted him to just 11 Premier League appearances.

Arrizabalaga did feature heavily when Chelsea’s number one was away at the Africa Cup of Nations, but his return has seen the Spanish international drop back to the bench.

He did replace Mendy and come on for the penalty shoot-out in the Carabao Cup final last Sunday, but he failed to save any of Liverpool’s spot-kicks before missing one himself to hand Jurgen Klopp’s men the trophy.

Despite Arrizabalaga clearly behind Mendy in the pecking order, the Blues are demanding around £50m for his services.

When asked whether Newcastle could end up signing the Spaniard, Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “They definitely want a goalkeeper, so you can’t rule it out totally.”

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Should Eddie Howe’s side end up avoiding relegation, they’re likely to spend big to continue bolstering their squad ahead of next season.

In January, they brought in three defenders, one midfielder and a striker in Chris Wood, but Howe was unable to strengthen his goalkeeping options despite a late loan bid for Manchester United’s Dean Henderson.

Therefore, a