Things are moving fast in the summer transfer market, even as Chelsea get ready to face Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup. And it looks like one of their current players might not be involved in that game. Why? Well, because he is set to join one of the Blues' Premier League rivals.
Yes, the player we are talking about is none other than Noni Madueke. The Chelsea winger had been linked with a move to Arsenal for the past few weeks. Now, it has been confirmed right before the Club World Cup final, a tournament he was getting playing time at.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Madueke to Arsenal is here we go. The transfer fee agreed is in excess of £50 million with add-ons included, and there is a green light from Chelsea. The England international has already agreed a five-year deal with Arsenal and he’s now set to complete the move.
Madueke has been a regular contributor for Chelsea during his two-and-a-half-year run at Stamford Bridge. And his run with the Blues is ending quite unexpectedly.
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Madueke's exit had been speculated upon for the past week or so and it does not come as a sudden surprise. That being said, one has to wonder if Chelsea would have sanctioned this move if not for UEFA's recent fine.
Chelsea do have decent options in that area of the pitch. Pedro Neto is expected to start while Estevao will be coming in after the Club World Cup and will need some game time to adjust to the Premier League.
Also, there had been some speculation that Chelsea would replace Madueke with Mohammed Kudus. But that is no longer possible as he has already joined Tottenham Hotspur this summer.