Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has emerged as a surprise target for Arsenal this summer.
According to The Telegraph, the Gunners are not the only ones keeping an eye on Madueke’s situation, but the Englishman is certainly on their radar.
Whether that translates to a formal approach remains to be seen, although Chelsea have made it clear that Madueke is not up for sale, nor has he been offered to any club.
Nevertheless, insiders believe the 23-year-old is not untouchable. There’s a feeling that Chelsea could be open to letting him go for the right price.
Madueke still has a long-term contract with Chelsea and is valued at £34 million on Transfermarkt.
Arsenal haven’t opened formal talks to sign the former PSV Eindhoven star, but they’ve explored his availability as they look to bolster their attacking options.
Chelsea are in the process of bolstering their squad ahead of the new season. The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League despite enduring a topsy-turvy campaign.
They capped off a fantastic season finale with the Europa Conference League title and are now looking to build a team that can challenge on multiple fronts after returning to the Champions League.
Madueke is still part of the club’s long-term plans. His versatility has come in handy for Enzo Maresca’s side in recent times, as he can do a decent job on both flanks.
The England international had a solid campaign last season. He notched 11 goals and five assists in 42 games across all competitions, although each of his goal contributions came from the right flank.
Madueke has all the raw tools to become a thorn in the flesh of any defender, but he has yet to put things together.
He has only shown flashes of his immense potential but enough to keep Chelsea hoping he can live up to expectations, and Maresca has challenged him on multiple occasions.
Madueke is unlikely to leave Chelsea this summer. But the coming campaign might be make or break. If he doesn’t show he has what it takes to perform at a high level, Chelsea could decide to cut their losses.