Pochettino confirms Kepa has permission to leave club ahead of Real Madrid move

The Spaniard ended the 2022-23 campaign as the Blues' number one, demoting Edouard Mendy down to the bench before the Senegal international departed for Al-Ahli.

However, Kepa's long-term future at Stamford Bridge has been called into question for some time, and the Blues added to their goalkeeping ranks with the signing of Robert Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this summer.

As a result, Bayern Munich and Real had apparently shown an interest in signing Kepa, who is now expected to complete a switch to the latter on loan for the 2023-24 campaign.

Kepa was left out of Chelsea's squad for their 1-1 draw with Liverpool in Sunday's Premier League opener, and Pochettino affirmed that the 28-year-old had been given the thumbs-up to explore opportunities elsewhere.

"With Kepa it is something that has happened very quick and it is a situation that is correct [reports of move]," Pochettino told the media ahead of the Stamford Bridge stalemate.

"He has permission to explore a different situation and we will see what happens with that one over the next 24 to 48 hours."

Kepa is set to arrive in the Spanish capital as a temporary replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who is at risk of missing the entirety of the new season with a severe ACL injury.

Andriy Lunin started in goal for Real in Saturday's 2-0 success over Athletic Bilbao and has been lauded by Carlo Ancelotti, but Los Blancos were always expected to enter the market for a new shot-stopper.

Kepa - whose £72m move to Chelsea in 2019 remains the world record for a goalkeeper - has amassed 59 clean sheets in 163 matches for the Blues, who are now short of options in the goalkeeping department.

Alongside Mendy's permanent exit for Al Ahli, 19-year-old Gabriel Slonina has joined Eupen on loan, while Marcus Bettinelli is still recovering from a troublesome injury.

As a result, Under-21s shot-stopper Lucas Bergstrom was named on the bench for the visit of Liverpool, and Chelsea are rumoured to be plotting a move for Nice's Kasper Schmeichel as cover for Sanchez.

The Spaniard was beaten by a Luis Diaz strike in the early stages of Sunday's clash with Liverpool, but new signing Axel Disasi equalised for Chelsea, who looked the brighter of the two teams at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues - who could soon seal a £115m deal for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo - are next in action away to West Ham United in a London derby on August 20.