Alongside deals for Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal are also working on a move for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.
Mikel Arteta has seemingly been a fan of Noni Madueke for some time, a player Arsenal have often been linked with over the years.
However, that admiration has become more serious this summer and Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Madueke ahead of a potential move to the Emirates.
Arsenal and Chelsea are yet to agree a fee for the winger, but it’s understood that the west London club would demand around £50m for the 23-year-old.
And when you consider that Arsenal are paying £65m for Gyokeres, Madueke’s price tag does seem steep, a player who will predominantly act as cover for Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal target Rafael Leao’s price tag has just been slashed
That being said, Spanish outlet Sport are now reporting that AC Milan winger Rafael Leao will be available for only €70m (£60m) this summer, a player whose release clause is more than double that sum.
TBR Football revealed back in April that Arsenal are still interested in Leao, and the club’s search for a new left winger has only intensified since.
Rafael Leao during a match for AC Milan.
Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images
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Leao is now 26-years-old and after several years at AC Milan, there’s a feeling that there’s still more to come from the winger.
And with the greatest respect to Madueke, Leao is in a class above, a winger who Thierry Henry once called ‘crazy’ when praising his ability.
Whilst Madueke would come to Arsenal to compete for a place, a player of Leao’s standing and ability would immediately arrive as a key player.
And although Leao would demand a lot more in terms of wages as a result, it must be tempting for Arsenal to explore a deal considering it would cost only £10m more up front.
How much would Noni Madueke earn at Arsenal?
At Chelsea right now, Madueke reportedly earns £50k-a-week, meaning he’s nowhere near the likes of Reece James or Raheem Sterling at the top of the club’s wage bill.
And according to Fabrizio Romano, Madueke would settle for a very similar wage at the Emirates, explaining why Arsenal might consider a deal good value.
But perhaps Madueke’s relatively modest wage demands demonstrate that the fee being touted for any deal is currently too high.
Judging the move strictly on the English winger’s ability, Madueke would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s front line.
However, £50m doesn’t represent value for the Gunners, especially given that Zubimendi and Gyokeres are costing only slightly more.