Arsenal have agreed a deal with Chelsea in excess of £50million to sign Noni Madueke, football.london understands. The Gunners are hoping to add the England international to their team before flying off to Asia on July 19 for their pre-season tour, where they will face AC Milan, Newcastle and Tottenham.
Madueke is a player the club scouted prior to joining Chelsea when he was at PSV. He adds depth to the right-hand side that the club lacked when Bukayo Saka was injured for around four months last season. The club have been keen to address this area, with youngster Ethan Nwaneri having been drafted in at 17 years of age to cover the club talisman until he, too, was injured at Brighton and missed a month of action.
The Arsenal youngster is believed to be seen more as a central player who can cover a wide area if necessary, but his pathway is thought to be as a ten or an eight. Madueke will be offering competition to the wide areas, particularly on the right.
It is understood the club will continue in their efforts to sign further priority signings like Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres. The potential for a fourth attacking signing is likely to be predicated on the future of existing stars in the side.
Arsenal have not sold one of their primary starters during the Arteta tenure but both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have been linked with moves away. The club would be more open to the former’s departure and there is interest from the continent in the Belgium international.
If Arsenal are able to move on further players such as Fabio Vieira, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Reiss Nelson and Albert Sambi Lokonga, this will add fuel to the attempts of pouncing on a market opportunity. Whether that is Rodrygo remains to be seen with the Brazilian still assessing his future after being dropped down the pecking order at the Club World Cup by new Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso.
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