Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, and Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, embrace prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England.Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, and Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, embrace prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, and Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, embrace prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal and Chelsea are eyeing the same Premier League player this summer
Arsenal and Chelsea will both hope to be playing Champions League football again next season, with a job to be done in their final two Premier League matches as the season draws to a close.
Neither club have particularly set the world alight in the league despite their strong positions, and so reinforcements will be targeted in the summer in a bid to challenge next campaign.
The Gunners host Newcastle United on Sunday in a crunch match which could end up deciding who finishes as runners-up to champions Liverpool. Mikel Arteta’s side remain in pole position after fighting back to earn a point at Anfield last time out, undeterred by the guard of honour they had to give the Reds prior to kick-off.
Arsenal then travel to bottom club Southampton on the final day - which may not be a foregone conclusion as proven by Manchester City’s goalless draw there - but they will be confident they can get it over the line.
As for Chelsea, encounters with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest will decide their fate, with their final-day trip to the City Ground potentially a straight shoot-out for fifth place and the Champions League.
Enzo Maresca has done well to manage his huge squad of players throughout the season and the Blues have shown gradual improvement from last campaign. But should they fall short and have to settle for the Europa League, their less-than-forgiving fanbase will question a third successive season without qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition.
Huijsen transfer twist
Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked with Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen, among a host of Europe’s top clubs who are queuing up for the 20-year-old centre-back - who has a £50m release clause that’ll become active this summer.
Huijsen signed for the Cherries last summer with just 15 competitive games of men’s football behind him in spells with Juventus and Roma, but has taken to England like a duck to water in 30 Premier League appearances. Notably, Huijsen recently scored at the Emirates in a 2-1 Bournemouth victory which put a dent in the Gunners’ Champions League bid.
It was reported by the Independent in April that Chelsea were the favourites to land the Spanish international, with stiff competition from Arsenal in addition to Liverpool and Newcastle United.
Romano stated that the £50m release clause can be paid in three instalments, with Madrid needing to act quickly if they hope to prise Huijsen away from the Premier League and back to Spain, where he lived for 11 years. However the move is far from a foregone conclusion as Romano added “timing will be key as Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are ready to advance.”
Why Arsenal and Chelsea are in the market for new centre-backs
The Gunners boast one of the Premier League’s best centre-back partnerships in Gabriel and William Saliba, but have recently been without Brazilian Gabriel after he suffered a hamstring injury in early April which ruled him out for the season.
Jakub Kiwior has stepped in well and started both legs of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final victory over Real Madrid, but has been linked with an exit to Serie A to pursue more regular opportunities.
Chelsea have several options at centre-back, with Maresca recently opting for Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah as his starting partnership at the back. Chalobah was recalled from a loan at Crystal Palace in January amidst a series of defensive injuries at Stamford Bridge, and Huijsen could be viewed as a solid option to bolster the defence while also keeping with Chelsea’s model of signing the top young talent in Europe.
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