Arsenal
Transfer News: Arsenal In Talks Over Audacious Deal For Chelsea Star
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has made contact with incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to discuss a potential deal for one of his new players.
The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal are linked with Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma….
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has made contact with incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to discuss a potential deal for centre-back Kurt Zouma, according to a report in the Mirror.
Wenger has already started his summer business after wrapping-up the signing of Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka last week but it looks as though the Gunners boss has now set his sights on landing a new central defender.
The Mirror are citing Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli as saying that Wenger has been in touch with new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte to enquire about the availability of Kurt Zouma this summer.
The Gunners title challenge fell short once again with familiar frailties at the back contributing to their poor form since the turn of the year and it appears Arsenal are hoping to pair Zouma with compatriot Laurent Koscielny next season.
The French international became an integral part of the Chelsea starting eleven this season after ousting Gary Cahill but a serious knee injury not only ended his campaign prematurely but it’s also kept him out of the European Championships – which will be held in his home country next month.
Zouma is well on the road to recovery and is expected to be fit for the start of next season but it appears Arsene is hoping the 21-year-old will be lining up in the red of Arsenal rather than blues of Chelsea.
The report gives no indication as to how Chelsea responded to Wenger’s enquiry but my guess is Conte politely told the 66-year-old that Zouma wasn’t for sale – particularly to a domestic rival.
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Conte will officially begin his role at Stamford Bridge after fulfilling his duties with the Italian squad at Euro 2016 and I’m sure he’ll want a chance to assess his squad before making any major changes.
Zouma is unlikely to be deemed surplus to requirements as he’s one of the best young defenders in European football but even if Conte does decide to cash-in, I very much doubt Chelsea will be prepared to sell to Arsenal, so Wenger is probably going to have to keep looking in his search for a new centre-back.
