Fakayejo Paul
London, UK – Arsenal are set to hold direct talks with Chelsea soon to discuss a deal for winger Noni Madueke.
While a gap in valuation currently exists between the two London rivals, negotiations will now formally commence to determine if and how a transfer can proceed.
As previously revealed, Noni Madueke, 23, has already agreed a five-year contract with Arsenal, committing his personal terms to the Gunners until June 2030.
This signals his clear desire to make the move across London.
Chelsea are reportedly expecting a bid from Arsenal for Madueke, who joined the Blues from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for approximately £29 million.
He has since made 91 appearances for Chelsea, contributing 20 goals. Despite his contributions, Chelsea’s recent significant attacking reinforcements, including the arrivals of Liam Delap and João Pedro, and the upcoming arrival of Estevão Willian, suggest Madueke’s playing time might be diminished.
Chelsea is reportedly valuing Madueke at around £50 million (€59 million), a figure Arsenal may find steep.
However, the strong relationship between the two clubs in recent transfer dealings (including Kepa Arrizabalaga’s recent move to Arsenal for £5 million, and previous transfers of Kai Havertz and Jorginho) could facilitate negotiations.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly a long-time admirer of Madueke and sees him as valuable competition and depth across both wings, particularly as cover for Bukayo Saka on the right.
While Arsenal’s primary focus currently appears to be on finalizing the signing of striker Viktor Gyökeres, their interest in Madueke remains strong.
Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca recently stated that he has no doubts about Madueke’s mindset amidst the transfer noise, indicating he’s willing to use the player if needed.
However, his earlier comments about only wanting players who are “happy to be with us” suggest an openness to departures for those who wish to leave.
All eyes will now be on the direct talks between the two clubs to see if they can bridge the valuation gap and complete another significant London transfer.