Arsenal should go after PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko instead of Chelsea’s Noni Madueke this summer.
Recent reports have said that Arsenal are in talks to sign Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who is estimated to cost around £52m. It has been said that the England international has agreed personal terms with the Gunners, and they now just need to offer a deal that the Blues would accept.
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He would come in to be a backup to Bukayo Saka, as Madueke’s best position is on the right-wing. However, £52m for a backup is a lot of money, and it could compromise Arsenal’s other transfer business, such as a move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo or Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal should sign Bakayoko instead
Madueke is a good winger, lets start off with that. Last year, he scored 11 goals and provided five assists for Chelsea, also helping them to a Champions League place, and a Europa Conference League trophy.
However, we ran Madueke’s statistics through DataMB’s Player Comparison tool, and it said that Madueke’s season last year, was evenly matched, if not slightly worse, than PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko’s season.
The 22-year-old Belgian winger managed to score more goals than Madueke, he netted 12 goals in 47 games, and although his assist numbers were two less in total, his passing and dribbling stats bettered the 23-year-old Chelsea winger’s.
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Bakayoko ranked better in terms of progressive carries, dribbles completed, non-penalty goals, key passes, and crosses completed. In fact, the only statistic where Madueke managed to beat Bakayoko was in assists.
Bakayoko would also be a cheaper option
Not only did Bakayoko’s stats out-perform Madueke’s from last year, but also he wouldn’t cost anywhere near as much as the Chelsea winger.
According to a report by the Telegraph, Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest have identified the PSV winger as a target to replace Anthony Elanga, who went to Newcastle United, and that the Eredivisie club are expected to demand around £30m for Bakayoko, making him over £20m cheaper than Madueke.
Arsenal could use that extra budget in order to fund a deal for one of Eze or Rodrygo, two players that would be expected to start for Arteta in place of Gabriel Martinelli on the left hand side. So in that case, a move for Bakayoko makes so much more sense than Madueke.
Click here to see Arsenal’s dream line-up for next season if the current transfer rumours are to be true.