Transfer Market Yet to renew Athletic contract

The future of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Club's goalkeeper, could take a significant twist in the next few weeks. The Spanish international has still not renewed his contract at Estadio San Mames and there are fears that he could leave the Basque Country as soon as January.

There is a high possibility that it could be the case, particularly if, as looks increasingly likely, he does not put pen to paper on a new deal before January 1.

Athletic Club are applying pressure to encourage their No. 1 to extend his stay at the club where he came through the ranks, but he could capitalise on his low buy-out clause of just 20 million euros in January.

It is not the only reason why Kepa may not see out his contract to June 30 2018. The importance of the World Cup in Russia being only months away is huge for a player who needs to keep playing to ensure that he remains among Julen Lopetegui's three choices in goal.

If the situation becomes even more tense and Kepa is no longer selected by Cuco Ziganda, his chances of heading to Russia would plummet. Right now, little matters more to the goalkeeper than being on that plane.

That's why Real Madrid are keeping one eye on the situation. They have highlighted the 23-year-old as a reinforcement to compete with Keylor Navas to be first choice.

Although Madrid are best placed, they are not the only ones chasing the youngster. Juventus have also been monitoring him, seeing him as nothing less than a potential replacement for the legendary Gianluigi Buffon.

Kepa's renewal with Athletic Club, as MARCA revealed last week, is still making no progress. The likelihood of an agreement seems increasingly distant.

Real Madrid are thus considering the possibility of bringing him to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu by paying his reasonable 20m euro buy-out clause.

In fact, Los Blancos may even do as they did with the cases of Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos, paying more than the clause, most likely 25m euros, to put an end to any disagreement with Los Leones.

On January 1, the shot-stopper will be free to negotiate with any club, and time is quickly running out with the differences between the two parties remain vast, right from the wage that Kepa is demanding to the buy-out clause that his club want to put in place.

The last meeting between his representatives and officials was two weeks ago and there was no agreement, with the Bilbao based club now taking it as given that they will not be able to keep hold of him.

In Madrid, Zinedine Zidane and Co. are tracking the situation closely. The French coach has given the go ahead after his goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis, who previously worked with Kepa at Athletic, produced a sterling recommendation.

Now, he is the club's number one target for the position ahead of next season. Kepa is aware of the interest and if a path to the capital becomes clear, he could force a move this January.