Athletic Bilbao 'hopeful' over Kepa Arrizabalaga contract

Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia has said that his club are 'hopeful' of finalising a new contract for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Kepa, 22, will see his current deal with Bilbao expire at the end of the season, and it has been reported that Real Madrid are interested in signing the highly-rated stopper.

Urrutia, however, is confident that the Spaniard will soon sign a new long-term contract at San Mames.

"It should not take long for the parties to come to an arrangement," Urrutia told Movistar+. "We are hoping the response to our offer is a positive one."

Kepa, who made 22 appearances for Spain's Under-21 team between 2013 and 2017, has featured in nine of Bilbao's 10 La Liga matches at the start of the 2017-18 campaign.