Chelsea is close to finalizing a loan agreement for a 19-year-old prodigy
KAS Eupen is close to signing Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina on a loan contract for the upcoming season.
Fabrizio Romano has verified Gabriel Slonina’s imminent loan move to Belgian club KAS Eupen from Premier League club Chelsea.
With the intention of experiencing European football, the 19-year-old will play regular football for the Pro League club.
Chelsea is on the lookout for a new goalkeeper and has been in contact with some of the best candidates.
Their current priority is to acquire a new central midfielder, and Brighton has turned down four offers for their top target, Moises Caicedo.
With the search for a midfielder in full gear, Chelsea may have postponed the search for a goalkeeper until the end of the window.
They have already permitted Edouard Mendy to depart for Saudi Arabia, leaving Kepa Arrizabalaga as their sole senior-level player.
The Spaniard, Marcus Bettinelli, and Gabriel Slonina are the only options in goal for the time being, with Slonina due to depart on loan.
Chelsea has targets such as Diogo Costa and Illan Meslier of Leeds United, with the latter being a cheaper alternative to the former.
EXCL: Belgian side KAS Eupen closing in on deal to sign Gabriel Slonina on loan from Chelsea, here we go soon 🔵🇺🇸
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 28, 2023
🇧🇪 Understand agreement on the verge of being reached on one-year loan valid until June 2024.
Slonina will play regularly and he’s key part of #CFC future plans. pic.twitter.com/62Arj4Jhg4
Slolina must play frequently and acquire experience in European football in order to succeed.
Chelsea defeated Real Madrid to acquire the 19-year-old USMNT star during the previous season.
Initially, they paid approximately £7.7 million, but when add-ons are factored in, the total cost of the transaction could exceed £12 million.
Real Madrid remained interested in the 19-year-old prodigy, but only as a backup for Thuibaut Courtios and a replacement for Andriy Lunin.
Moreover, Chelsea views him as an integral part of their future squads, making a loan move this summer the most likely consequence of a transfer.
The Belgian Pro League club KAS Eupen is on the precipice of loaning the 19-year-old prodigy for an entire season.
Fabrizio Romano insisted that Slonina would play routinely and acquire the necessary experience to succeed in the Premier League in the future.
Chelsea is not interested in any offers for the goalkeeper, but they cannot afford to make him Kepa’s backup this season.
Future prominence for the one-cap USMNT star will hinge on who holds the No. 1 position.
He will spend the upcoming season in Belgium, seeking to confirm his status as one of football’s rising stars.
He will also monitor the national team position currently occupied by Arsenal’s Matt Turner.
Chelsea is close to finalizing a loan agreement for a 19-year-old prodigy
