Chelsea asked to sign Arsenal star in talks over Noni Madueke transfer

Chelsea might be starting to regret their decision to sell Noni Madueke after the impressive start he has made to his Arsenal career.

Having made plans to recruit Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund and Alejandro Granacho from Manchester United, Enzo Maresca deemed former the PSV Eindhoven winger surplus to requirements.

The Blues negotiated a deal that could eventually net them £52million, if certain performance related criteria are met, but that fee is beginning to look like good value from an Arsenal perspective, especially given the 23-year-old’s homegrown status.

Madueke’s transfer would have had a different complexion had Chelsea been successful in prising Ethan Nwaneri from their London rivals, however.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the teenager’s future was discussed during talks over Madueke’s move when, at the time, Nwaneri was in the midst of delicate contract negotiations.

The England Under-21 international eventually committed his future to his boyhood club having also been courted by Borussia Dortmund who were willing to pay a significant fee and offer substantial wages.

‘It means everything to me, I’m so happy to have got it done,’ said Nwaneri after extending a deal that had been due to expire in 2026. ‘This is where I feel at home, and where I’m going to develop the best.

‘I’m very excited. I see this as my first real season and part of a proper squad in the changing room. I’m so excited for what I can bring to the team and how I can help the team.

‘I think I’ve actually become more direct over the past few years and I’ve added more goals, so I’m excited for what will come next.’

Madueke, meanwhile, enhanced his growing reputation with a goal in England’s 5-0 win over Serbia on Tuesday, but Thomas Tuchel insists there is still room for improvement in his game.

‘He has the speed and he has the ability to win one-vs-one duels,’ said the England head coach.

‘I’m very happy that he scored today and was involved in goals because this is something he needs to add to his game: efficiency, being involved in goals with assists and finishes and goals.

‘So that’s why I’m very happy today because he played with a hunger and with a directness.

‘On top of that, he needs to stay focussed and I’m most happy about his attitude today, the reaction after ball losses, the work that he put in to help Reece [James] because we played a back four against a back five, so to help against the wing-backs and to push forward and do pressing.

‘The work-rate is what I like the most in his performance today and, yeah, from there he’s fast, he’s direct, he likes to dribble. That’s what we want from him.’