Arsenal and Chelsea are both reportedly weighing up a potential move for in-demand Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah, who could leave the club at the end of the season.
The 20-year-old began his footballing career in the Arsenal academy set-up before making the move to LaLiga in 2019. Now, Mikel Arteta wants him back at the Emirates.
Chelsea, however, are also keen on the United States international and recently hijacked Arsenal’s deal for Mykhaylo Mudryk.
This is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who claims that a move to the Premier League next summer isn’t out of the question.
Writing for CaughtOffside, he said: “Onto other possible targets, a summer move is very possible for Yunus Musah.
“Inter, Chelsea and Arsenal are following him closely, but then it’s still January so let’s see if some other clubs will join the race in the next months.
“His price was around €40m in December but let’s see in the summer, too early to say now.”
Musah already looks like an excellent player but has the potential to get even better given his young age, so he could be a major signing if Arsenal or Chelsea can get a deal over the line.
However, as stated by Romano, Inter Milan are also keen on the midfielder, so it depends on whether Musah opts to return to England, or looks for a different challenge in the Serie A.
Musah eyed by three European giants thanks to sky-high potential
The American has become a key player for Valencia since joining the club in 2020. Overall, he has made 87 appearances for the Spanish team, scoring five goals and making three assists in total.
While these may not sound like incredible numbers, his strongest attribute is arguably his defensive work rate.
On average, Musah makes 1.9 successful tackles per game, as well as 0.6 interceptions, with his aggressiveness making him an imposing figure on the pitch.
Musah is also versatile, with the ability to play as a central or attacking midfielder, as well as a right winger on occasion, so he could provide cover in several positions for Mikel Arteta or Graham Potter.
As per Romano’s report, the Valencia man would likely cost in the region of €40m (approx. £35.4m).
Arsenal could certainly do with some midfield reinforcements. Mohamed Elneny is being linked with a move to Aston Villa, while Thomas Partey has struggled with injuries at times despite being at the peak of his powers at present.
With that in mind, Musah could provide excellent cover for Partey and also has the potential to become his long-term replacement.
As for Chelsea, they look set to lose Jorginho at the end of the season, while N’Golo Kante has also been linked with a summer departure. It’s fair to say that Musah could be a valuable addition for both of the London rivals.
Arsenal will no doubt be looking for revenge after Chelsea hijacked their move for Mudryk at the last minute. If Romano is correct, the two London rivals could meet head on once again over the summer.