Chelsea target Arsen Zakharyan has revealed that he still hopes to join the Blues amid interest from Zenit. The 19-year-old wonderkid was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer as Todd Boehly looked to bolster the club's midfield options.
It's said that Todd Boehly wanted to wrap up a deal for the midfielder quickly, but the west Londoners faced a number of complications which ultimately saw negotiations collapse. Due to British sanctions placed on Russia, as well as various other rules and regulations set by FIFA on the transfer of Russia or Ukraine-based players, a move proved too difficult to complete with not enough time left in the summer window.
Despite this, Zakharyan remains hopeful of completing a move to Chelsea and wants to join Graham Potter's side 'now'. Speaking to Sport24, the Dynamo Moscow star revealed how he found out that the west Londoners were interested in him, what he would do to ensure a move doesn't fall through and whether he'd consider a club other than the Blues.
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Translated from Russian by Google, Zakharyan said: "I found out from my agents, plus the club said that they received a letter with a request from Chelsea. I don't know the transfer details.
"[My] Reaction? I was called by Dmitry Alexandrovich (a member of the board of Dynamo Moscow) and asked if I wanted to move and how I looked at it. I said my position, yes, I want to."
The Russia international, who is said to have a £12.6million release clause, was asked what his first reaction was to Chelsea's interest. He replied: "I immediately said that I want to. Waiting for this to be resolved.
"Have you studied the ingredients? I knew who was playing in my position - [Kai] Havertz, [Mason] Mount, [Conor] Gallagher, [Raheem] Sterling.
"I immediately said that I want to go and go. I do not cancel the rental option, but at least I would try myself there. Then I'll be back, maybe it would be possible to start playing there right away.
"I got my parents right away. I was glad, there was excitement. I thought it would work, it wouldn't work. I replayed in my head how it would all turn out. The agent said that a club from Spain was interested in me, but I have Chelsea, and I want to join Chelsea."
Zakharyan was then asked whether there was a chance he'll join Chelsea in January. He replied: "I hope that the negotiations will continue in the winter and they will lead to something."
Zenit, who are rivals to Dinamo Moscow, are said to have also been heavily linked with a move for the teenage sensation. Zakharyan was quizzed whether he'd consider a move to anywhere other than Chelsea'
"I want to go to Chelsea now," he said. I don't want to go to Zenit. I have a year and a half contract. I am happy to play in Dynamo. The only place I want to go is Chelsea."
Zakharyan has featured 13 times for Dynamo in Premier Liga this season, directly contributing towards six goals. Had he joined in the summer, he would have been the sixth teenager to pen a deal at Chelsea following the arrivals of Omari Hutchinson, Zak Sturge, Gabriel Slonina, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka.
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