Former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry has agreed a new long-term deal with Bayern Munich amid links to both the Gunners and Chelsea this summer.
Chelsea's transfer window really got into gear this week on the incomings front with Raheem Sterling's £47.5million deal announced on Wednesday afternoon. Shortly after, it was revealed that the Blues and Napoli had agreed a £34m deal for Kalidou Koulibaly whose medical was successful, pending an official announcement,
Elsewhere, as well as focussing in on other defensive targets amid the most recent Nathan Ake snub, targeting a further attacker to work in Thomas Tuchel's fluid front three next season was something high up on new owner Todd Boehly's list. This is where Gnabry's and also Rafael Leao's name came into the equation. It had been revealed that the pair had been looked into as Chelsea tried to get the wheels in motion going on signing at least one of the versatile forwards.
READ MORE: Serge Gnabry makes Chelsea transfer decision as Kalidou Koulibaly passes London medical
Both had precarious contractual situations going on at Bayern Munich and AC Milan respectively. However, the Athletic have reported that the former Arsenal man has agreed on a new long-term deal with the Bavarians despite rumours that it wasn't only a monetary hold-up in negotiations, with the 27-year-old reportedly unhappy with being used at right-wing-back in Julian Nagelsmann's system.
Gnabry had also been linked with a return to Arsenal this summer, with just one year remaining on his deal at Bayern. However, while there is interest from the Gunners, it always looked unlikely that he would move to a team outside of the Champions League this year. Instead, the Gunners could turn their attentions to one of Lucas Paqueta or the most recently linked Leroy Sane.
Chelsea supporters can expect to see similar news with AC Milan talismanic figure Leao. The Daily Mail report that the current Serie A Champions have offered the 23-year-old a new and improved contract and are unwilling to sell to anyone for less than his £127million release clause.
With both Gnabry and Leao seemingly off the table, where do Chelsea turn next? The expectation is that more movement will be put into recruiting more defenders before the attack once again becomes the priority- something Tuchel confirmed in a recent interview with Sky Sports.
"I would not rule it out [signing another striker] but right now it is not the priority. The priority right now is defence, it's not a secret. From there we need to see what's possible," he reaffirmed.
Chelsea fans- Who would you like to see be targeted now amid these fresh Rafael Leao and Serge Gnabry setbacks? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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