Arsenal and Chelsea are expected to be extremely busy in the transfer window this summer. The Gunners will be hoping to build on their sensational 2022/23 campaign which saw them push Manchester City close to the Premier League title.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will want to rebuild under Mauricio Pochettino and re-cement their place as one of the league's top clubs. Declan Rice is a player of interest for both sides but football.london understands Mikel Arteta has made the West Ham midfielder a priority.
Moises Caicedo has also been linked with the two clubs and it's understood Pochettino is keen on signing the Brighton star. Another player the Argentine has his eyes on is Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson, according to the Evening Standard.
The 21-year-old Senegal international is seen as the ideal striker signing this summer and the Blues met with his representatives last week. Jackson, who scored 13 goals in 38 appearances last season, is expected to cost around £30million and is a much cheaper alternative to Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, who would cost north of £100million.
Now, if Chelsea were to sign Jackson, that could spell the end for Kai Havertz at Stamford Bridge. The German completed a £75million move to the Blues in September 2020 but has struggled to really make an impact.
Scoring 32 goals in 139 appearances, as per Transfermarkt, the forward has been linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer, with Real Madrid and at least two other clubs showing an interest. Arsenal are among the sides who hold an interest in the striker, football.london understands, with Havertz said to be on Edu's list of potential targets.
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Chelsea are understood to want around £70million for the German international who has two years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge. Havertz is open to the idea of leaving and has shown no inclination towards signing a new deal with the Blues, but he will not push for a move this summer as things stand.
Edu has already outlined Arsenal's intention to spend this summer so a deal cannot be ruled out, especially as Havertz would be an ideal backup for Gabriel Jesus. "We need to identify how we can improve," Edu told ESPN Brasil.
"If we have to improve specific, individual positions, individuals, final turn, midfielders, our defence. We already know what it is because our style of play with Mikel Arteta is very clear. When you see Arsenal play now, you know it’s our style.
"Now we have to understand how to enhance our athletes so the team can improve and reach a new level in terms of performance. I think there is a level above. Mikel and I talked, and we believe we can raise our performance to a new level. Now we have to do good work in the transfer window, we have to understand what we need, get the right athletes, the right traits, and the right athlete mentality so we can raise our squad’s level again."
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