Mikel Arteta might face London competition for a young starlet.placeholder image
Mikel Arteta might face London competition for a young starlet. | Getty Images
Two London rivals could go head-to-head for a massive transfer coup this summer.
Rivals Arsenal and Chelsea will both aim to go far in the Champions League this season, with the two Premier League giants having qualified for the top eight of the competition and earnt an automatic spot in the last 16 as a result.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners finished in first place in the league phase and are amongst the favourites to win the competition for what would be the first time in their history – while the north London outfit are also sat top of the Premier League, and will face the challenging task of attempting to end their hoodoo on both fronts this term.
Chelsea have had a mixed start under new boss Liam Rosenior but will feel that they can beat any team in Europe on their day. They might soon need to overcome Arsenal off the pitch if they are to secure a high-potential signing from a Champions League rival this summer.
Arsenal and Chelsea target £30m Atalanta starlet
According to reports by Caught Offside, Arsenal and Chelsea are both in the race for 18-year-old Atalanta wonderkid Honest Ahanor, who has stepped up with admirable poise in his first season competing in the Champions League with the Bergamo side this season.
Ahanor was a second-half substitute on Wednesday night as Atalanta reached the last 16 of the competition with a stunning 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg of their knockout play-off tie.
The Nigerian defender has often played as part of a back three for the Serie A side, while he is also capable of operating at full-back and has demonstrated his ability to dominate defensive duels while using his rapid speed across the ground to good effect.
Atalanta are keen to keep hold of their teenage talent but could see their resolve tested by significant bids from the Premier League. Reported bids for Ahanor are said to be considered in the region of €35m (£30m), with Atalanta having signed him for a reported £17.5m from Genoa just last summer.
Ahanor could be the future of Arsenal’s defence - unless Chelsea get their way
Reporting continues that both Arsenal and title rivals Manchester City are ‘evaluating’ bids of £30m for Ahanor this summer, as both clubs look to future-proof their defence with one of the most highly-rated prospects in Europe in his position after extensive scouting in Bergamo.
There could be serious competition from Chelsea, though – the Blues are said to be pursuing a structured deal involving a loan spell to accelerate the development of the 2008-born talent before integrating him into the first team at Stamford Bridge. The west London outfit have become infamous for hoovering up young talent and using such loan spells with the likes of sister club Strasbourg as a strong development path which has appeared to bear fruit so far, both on the pitch and in terms of the financial profits they have accrued.
Ahanor is viewed as having all the attributes of a modern defender – equally capable of playing at left-back and at centre-back, he is developing into a weapon for Atalanta in both the defensive and attacking phases of play and has many levels of his game yet to reach, still so very early in his senior career.
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