Report: Chelsea to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga as Thibaut Courtois replacement

Chelsea have reportedly agreed a world-record £71m fee for Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The Blues are believed to be on the lookout for a new first-choice stopper amid reports that Real Madrid target Thibaut Courtois failed to report for training for a second day in succession.

According to The Telegraph, Chelsea have been moved to take drastic action given the Belgian's absence, and have agreed to pay Kepa's buyout clause ahead of Thursday's Premier League transfer deadline.

The report also claims that Real have offered to include the season-long loan of midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who has publicly expressed his desire to play first-team football, as part of the deal to take Courtois to the Bernabeu.

Kepa made 31 appearances for Bilbao last season, 30 of which came in La Liga.