Kepa Arrizabalaga Reportedly Passes Real Madrid Medical

Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga reportedly underwent and passed a medical with Real Madrid on Thursday. 

According to Marca and OK Diario, the medical was conducted at the Hospital Sanitas La Moraleja in Sanchinarro, Madrid, with Los Blancos set to match his €20 million release clause.

Real are said to be confident about getting the deal done in the coming days, though news of the medical is unwelcome in Bilbao and could damage an already tense relationship between the two clubs.

The newspaper has also reported the player is not training with the club, fuelling speculation of his impending departure:

Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane has not been drawn on the matter, though, per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan:

The 23-year-old has emerged as a rising star in La Liga over the last two seasons, and he looks to have enormous potential.

Kepa's command of the penalty area belies his age and relative inexperience, while his reactions are superb, as he demonstrated against Leganes earlier in the season:

Though current No. 1 Keylor Navas is an excellent goalkeeper on his day, the position has been a relative weak spot in the team since Iker Casillas' decline and departure, and the Costa Rican has a reputation for making the occasional gaffe that leads to a goal.

Arrizabalaga is already operating at a level where he could compete with Navas for a starting berth at the Santiago Bernabeu, and if his development continues at its current pace he'll prove to be an outstanding long-term option for Los Blancos.

What's more, while having a healthy competition between the two for places will put the club in a strong position, it also gives Real the option of cashing in on Navas, 31, or using him as a makeweight in their efforts to recruit others in the future.