Arsenal face dual Chelsea transfer combat as Mikel Arteta eyes his fourth summer signing
Arsenal are rumored to be in competition with Chelsea for two exciting deals this summer, as Mikel Arteta seeks to bolster his squad following the additions of Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Jurrien Timber. The Gunners have already spent over £200 million on player recruitment since the end of last season, but they are not expected to stop there; they are still believed to have their eyes on a number of other targets.
Since impressing for Ghana at last year’s World Cup, Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus has been linked with a move to Arsenal, with the Daily Mail reporting that a £40 million fee will be enough to convince the Dutch champions to sell him this summer. Chelsea is also rumored to be interested in bringing Kudus to the Premier League and could challenge Arsenal in the coming weeks for the player’s signature.
The Blues are reportedly pursuing a variety of attacking targets and have also indicated an interest in Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who was the subject of a £35 million opening bid last week. It now appears likely that Arsenal will join the search for Olise, which would pit the Gunners against Chelsea on two fronts this summer.
According to 90min, the north Londoners are keeping an eye on Olise’s current situation at Selhurst Park, as the Frenchman has emerged as a potential target after excelling in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons. If Arsenal cannot satisfy Ajax’s transfer fee demands for Kudus, he would be a shrewd replacement.
They may have left it too late to have the best chance of beating Chelsea to Olise’s signature, as RMC Sport reports that a deal for the 21-year-old to transfer to Stamford Bridge is already in place. According to reports, the final transfer fee is the only obstacle holding up the deal. However, Arsenal may attempt to scuttle the transfer if it becomes clear that Kudus will not be joining them.
Rob Holding, Folarin Balogun, and Kieran Tierney, among others, have been linked with summer exits, so it seems probable that any move for either player will depend on Arsenal’s ability to raise funds through player sales in the coming weeks. Besiktas reportedly had an offer rejected for Holding, whose contract expires next year and who is not anticipated to play a prominent role for Arsenal when the new season begins.
Balogun, meanwhile, has purportedly become a target for Inter Milan, with Arsenal reportedly willing to listen to bids in excess of £50 million. Tierney has also been linked with a return to Celtic after falling down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium, although Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers was swift to dismiss the possibility when asked about it last week.
“He’s a Celtic man, but he’s at a fantastic club in Arsenal,” Rodgers explained. “In football, one must never say never. Who knows what could occur? Certainly, we wouldn’t be able to purchase Kieran for £25-£30 million, or the figures I’ve heard bandied about. I am confident that we would not be able to afford his astronomical salary.”
Arsenal face dual Chelsea transfer combat as Mikel Arteta eyes his fourth summer signing