Chelsea to break British transfer record again to win race for Moisés Caicedo

Chelsea have identified the Nice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as a potential replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is set to join Real Madrid on a season-long loan.

Madrid have been in the market for a goalkeeper since losing Thibaut Courtois to a serious knee injury. They have beaten competition off competition from Bayern Munich for Arrizabalaga, who favours a return to Spain over a reunion with the former Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel.

The deal for Arrizabalaga does not include an option or obligation for Madrid to make the loan permanent. The 28-year-old has had a mixed time since Chelsea made him the most expensive goalkeeper in the world five years ago, signing him from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6m, and he will hope moving to the Bernabéu revives his career.

Chelsea have already sold the Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to the Saudi Pro League and need extra goalkeeping cover. They were ready to spend big on a new No 1 at the start of the summer but revised their plans after failing to find a buyer for Arrizabalaga, whose large wages have made him difficult to sell.

Mauricio Pochettino settled on a cheaper move for Robert Sánchez, who has joined from Brighton for £25m. Sánchez could start against Liverpool.

Chelsea have started to explore the market for a new goalkeeper and Schmeichel is a name under consideration. The former Leicester goalkeeper only joined Nice last summer but his form has been mixed and the French club are prepared to sell him. There is interest from other Premier League clubs in Schmeichel, who won the title with Leicester in 2016.

The 36-year-old would provide Chelsea with cheap, experienced cover if they decide to sign him. The Denmark international was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League during his time at Leicester and helped the Midlands club beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final in 2021.

Chelsea are still trying to beat Liverpool to the signing of the Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo and are close to completing a £55m deal for the Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, also wanted by Liverpool.