Arsenal have joined the race to sign Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, according to recent reports.
Italian outlet Calciomercato have claimed that the Gunners are 'ready' to challenge the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Aston Villa, AC Milan and West Ham United for Chukwueze's signature during the summer transfer window. It is claimed that Milan currently are leading the race for the Nigerian international, who is valued at €60million (£51million) by CIES Football Observatory.
The 24-year-old netted 13 goals and provided a further 11 assists across all competitions last season, as per transfermarkt, and the talented wideman's ability is far greater than his numbers suggest in the final third, known for his elite one vs one ability. In fact, according to fbref, only two players registered more successful take-ons in La Liga over the course of the 2022/23 campaign.
Arsenal hero Santi Cazorla, who played with Chukwueze at Villarreal, has also previously admitted that he had received calls about the talented attacker from friends at the north London club. "Yes, friends from Arsenal especially," Cazorla told Spanish outlet Marca when asked if he got many phone calls from England regarding Chukwueze and teammate Pau Torres.
"They ask me about them and think they can make the jump to the Premiership tomorrow. It’s good that great teams are interested in young players from Villarreal, but for the moment I tell them to leave them alone here.”
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Chukwueze, like Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka, is left-footed, predominantly operating on the right flank. He has spoken of his admiration for Dutch icon Arjen Robben in the past, famously known for cutting in on his left-foot from the right.
Speaking about Robben back in 2019 the speedy youngster told Goal: "He’s the king, to me. He’s the perfect player. I watch so many YouTube clips of him, and there are so many things I can learn from watching him.
“On the way to games, even now, I will still stick on clips of Robben and watch his goals, his dribbling. He’s my inspiration, one of the greatest. I like to be me, and of course you have to be yourself, but you need to learn from people like him. What a player."
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