Chelsea have been told to drop their interest in Myles Lewis-Skelly and focus on signing one of his Arsenal teammates instead.
The England international was reported to have been offered to the Gunners’ London rivals, as well as Manchester United, by intermediaries earlier this week.
Arsenal reportedly set the asking price at £45million but the 19-year-old is said to remain determined to stay and fight for his place, despite the level of competition for places intensifying as a result of Mikel Arteta sanctioning the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle.
Chelsea have also, meanwhile, been linked with Martin Zubimendi who lost his place in the Arsenal starting line-up to the Hale End Academy graduate at the backend of last season.
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The Spain international was coveted by new Blues boss Xabi Alonso during his time in charge of Real Madrid before he eventually settled on a move to north London in a £50m transfer from Real Sociedad.
And with Chelsea having switched their transfer focus to adding experience over potential, former Blues defender Glen Johnson believe Zubimendi would represent a better fit.
‘I think he would be a brilliant signing for Chelsea,’ Johnson told SeatPin. ‘I’m not sure why Arsenal are even signing players to replace him when he was so influential for them last season.
‘He has worked with Alonso before at Real Sociedad, so Xabi must really like the player to be pushing to re-sign him at Chelsea.
‘He’s now a Premier League winner, so he’s only going to be a better player than what he was when they last worked together.
‘I’d be surprised if Arsenal let him go to Chelsea, but if they do, more fool them. He was brilliant last season and knows what it takes to win in the Premier League, which is exactly what Chelsea need.
‘He could be the backbone of Chelsea’s midfield next season, and if Alonso wants him as badly as being reported, then the club should do everything they can to sign him.’
Alonso has attempted to strengthen every department of his squad since his arrival and Johnson is particularly hopeful of France international Maxence Lacroix who signed from Crystal Palace.
‘Maxence Lacroix is the best signing Chelsea have made this summer, and it’s not close,’ Johnson added.
‘It was a really shrewd signing. They got him at a great price, and he has plenty of Premier League experience, so I think they got a really good deal on someone who could forge a brilliant partnership with Levi Colwill.
‘Marco Palestra is also an exciting signing. He’s a young player with bags of talent, he’s clearly still learning, but given time could become a very influential player at Chelsea under Alonso.’