In football, however, you can give a fresh start as a tantalizing prospect. The club will never fail to give someone who is in a slump of form another chance. Chelsea’s midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could be on his way to the Emirates—but according to reports. After a wretched spell at Stamford Bridge, Gunners want to help restart his withering career. So is closing the door on one problem just to open it on another by moving from Chelsea to Arsenal?
🚨 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is set to become available in January, with Arsenal leading the race to sign the midfielder.
However, he also has interest from Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton , Fulham, Leicester, Man Utd, Newcastle, Rangers and Tottenham.
(Source: @CaughtOffside) pic.twitter.com/ghWKsMBtdR
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 18, 2024
The Rise and Fall of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
There was always a promising journey from Leicester City to Chelsea for Dewsbury-Hall. At Leicester, the midfielder has enjoyed a strong campaign under Enzo Maresca, holding his side to promotion before joining for a hefty £30 million by Chelsea. He scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists and was a large part of why Leicester won. The fairy tale, though, ended in a bitter way.
Dewsbury-Hall has had a less than glorious time at Chelsea since he moved there on a high-profile show of transfer, however. It’s often been at the expense of Europa Conference League and League Cup appearances that he has become accustomed to, a long way from the first-team football he enjoyed at Leicester. But clearly, his once-promising career is in jeopardy as he warms the bench.
A Fresh Start at Arsenal?
Of course Arsenal are interested in Dewsbury-Hall; he is an outstanding prospect. However, the Gunners are hoping to give the player a lifeline and a midfield that could do with some extra depth. A change of scenery, it would seem, appeals especially because Arsenal’s style of management thinks it can rekindle the fire in the midfielder’s belly. As with most football transfers, there is, however, a catch.
The Curse of the Chelsea Exile
The thing is—Chelsea has a weird track record of sending players on loan or selling them to other teams, and then they don’t perform. Dewsbury-Hall’s adjustment to life under the Emirates has only further been questioned after Sterling’s struggles at Arsenal. Can a player who couldn’t earn a place in Chelsea’s glittering midfield really prosper at Arsenal? Could this all just be Arsenal gambling on yet another ‘flop revival’? This could sting.
Communication Channels: An Open Line of Hope?
Interestingly, Arsenal have long been pursuing Dewsbury-Hall, thanks to a pre-existing link between the two London clubs. It sounds as if the successful loan move of Raheem Sterling to Arsenal in August has forged a line of communication between the two rivals. This precedent set has reportedly seen the Gunners keen to streamline negotiations with Dewsbury-Hall. It might be easier, but it’ll be a success or not.
A Double-Edged Sword: The Pros and Cons
But the benefits of a possible Arsenal transfer for Dewsbury-Hall are outweighed by the risk. In the past, the midfielder has shown some brilliance. He could find his form in a new environment. On the flipside, though, Arsenal may not have another player that isn’t the right fit like they did with Sterling.
My Final Verdict on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
It is a punt Arsenal is willing to take in the pursuit of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Will he be that spark that makes up their midfield? Will it be another failed castoff from Chelsea at the Emirates? Only time will tell.
I’m cautiously but pessimistically an Arsenal fan. We’ve been here before. Not to mention that I’m not sure I’d want to do it again. It’s a great signing, but if Dewsbury-Hall can adapt and use what he has, for what it’s worth, it could be a great signing. If he doesn’t, it could end up being another chapter in Arsenal’s terrible transfer record.
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