Arsenal are pushing to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta is eager to add depth to his wide attacking areas to help Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka – the latter of whom missed a large chunk of last season after tearing his hamstring.
Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Madueke, but are yet to agree a fee with Chelsea – who are believed to want around £50m for the England international, which would be a large amount for the Gunners to spend on a mere option for depth.
Now, however, a winger similar to Noni Madueke who Arsenal wanted to sign in 2022 in Edon Zhegrova has now become available.
2022 Arsenal target Edon Zhegrova asks to leave Lille
It was the Sunday Mirror who claimed back in April 2022 that Arsenal were willing to spend £11m to sign Zhegrova when he was 23 years of age.
The Kosovo international has since blossomed into a very effective winger, even winning the Man of the Match award against Real Madrid last season after helping Lille to a 1-0 win over the Spanish giants in the UEFA Champions League.
However, as he enters the final 12 months of his contract, the Lille No.23 is now keen to leave, as confirmed by the French outfit’s President, Olivier Letang.
Get French Football News quote him as saying: “Edon has expressed his wish to leave. It doesn’t seem appropriate to me to keep him with a year left on his contract in the current economic context of French football. (His departure is something) we’re anticipating.”
Zhegrova scored eight goals and provided two assists in 21 appearances across all competitions last season, tending to cut inside from the right onto his stronger left foot, in a similar way to how Saka and Madueke operate.
Arsenal can save millions by pivoting away from Noni Madueke
Where Chelsea are demanding around £50m for Madueke, Lille are believed to want just £20m for Zhegrova, as they face the prospect of losing the man born in Herford on a free transfer in 2026.
Not only that, but his lack of any Premier League experience would surely make the Kosovo star more willing to accept an initial backup role behind Saka.
In contrast, Madueke – who Ian Wright once criticised for a lack of end product – would surely want a more prominent role if he makes a £50m switch to Arsenal, given his status as an England international and a regular for Chelsea.