Arsenal among clubs monitoring Samuel Chukwueze
According to a recent report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, there is plenty of interest in Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze when it comes to transfer plans for the summer of 2023.
Chukwueze left his homeland of Nigeria to join Villarreal’s Under-19 side in 2017, and having passed through the club’s “B” side rather quickly, he earned a place in the first-team squad in late 2018. Since then, he’s gone on to represent the Yellow Submarine on 176 occasions, scoring 27 goals and producing 24 assists in all competitions.
The 23-year-old prefers to play on the right attacking flank, which, in case he ends up at Arsenal, would have him competing for the role against Bukayo Saka, or at least have him providing cover for the England international. He is, however, capable of playing on the left, and through the middle behind a striker as well. His most obvious weapon is pace, which often has defenders scrambling desperately to close him down.
This term, Chukwueze hasn’t exactly been on super-hot form so far, scoring three goals and contributing four assists in 19 matches. Of the 12 La Liga appearances he’s made, only four have come from the first whistle. But his talent is still clear to see, and it’s quite reasonable to expect significant rise of his overall quality in the years to come.
Atletico Madrid are believed to be keen to take Chukwueze to the Spanish capital, but they are said to be facing strong competition not only from Arsenal, but the likes of West Ham and Everton too. Frankly, if the player chooses the Premier League as his destination next summer, the Gunners shouldn’t really have any problems topping the Hammers and the Toffees in any race for his services.
On the other hand, former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, who has just left La Ceramica to take charge at Aston Villa, has reportedly spoken to Chukwueze about joining him at Villa Park already, and that could be a problem. Emery has had a superb start to his second spell in the Premier League, leading his team to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
