Head-scratcher: Richards questions Arsenal’s move for Madueke
Chelsea Football Newsletter
Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with the player, who has scored 11 goals and assisted five in 45 appearances this season. He is goalless in four appearances at the Club World Cup.
But Richards has now questioned whether the move makes sense, pointing out that Madueke, who favours the right flank, would be forced to either play out of positionor as a backup to Arsenal poster boy Bukayo Saka.
“Madueke... where is he going to play?” he pondered, speaking on the Rest is Football podcast. “He’s been playing for Chelsea on the left recently.
“I really like him as a player, but I like him on the right and he’s not going to play ahead of Bukayo Saka, is he?
"So, I’m scratching my head on that one. I agree [that they need two players in every position]. But Saka is always fit normally, until he got that really bad injury."
He added that signing a striker is a more pressing matter for the Gunners, with a deal for Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres in the works.
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Arsenal are thought to be targeting a left-sided winger as cover for Gabriel Martinelli, who could leave the club this summer.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has hinted that he is keen to hold on to Madueke but added that he only wants ‘happy players’ in his squad.
Speaking ahead of the Club World Cup semi-final, he said: “Noni has been very important for us during this season. Today, again, he has been important.
“But my message to the players and to the club is that I want just players that are happy to be with us. The ones that are not happy, they are free to go.”
He had criticised Madueke’s work rate earlier in the season, though, saying in January: “Noni can do much more. The moment he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to drop a little bit and the reason why he was not playing is because I do not like the way he trained.
"He has to understand that he has to train every day good. He has to be ambitious. He scored one tonight, he has to go for the second one and the third one. He has to give more assists. But overall, he is doing great.”