‘Noni Madueke to join Arsenal after Chelsea hit by UEFA sanctions’
Chelsea look set to cash in on Noni Madueke amid interest from Arsenal as they look to balance the books after being hit by a number of UEFA sanctions relating to finances.
The Blues’ extravagant recent spending looks to have caught up with them in some regard, with the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens all already signed for big fees this summer.
Sales are needed, and former scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that Newcastle United were considering a move for Noni Madueke, after Football Insider previously revealed that Enzo Maresca had concerns about Madueke’s attitude in the dressing room.
Brown also revealed to Football Insider back in April that Chelsea were set to accept offers for Madueke this summer, amid interest from both Tottenham and Aston Villa, so it is clear that they have plans to sell him soon.
Arsenal have also been reported as interested in Madueke, and the The Athletic have now revealed that the Gunners have agreed personal terms with him as they consider making an approach to Chelsea, and it would be no shock if the Blues cashed in on the winger given recent developments around their finances.
Chelsea will cash in on Madueke following new UEFA sanctions
The Guardian reported on Friday, 4 July, that Chelsea been fined €31million (£27m) by UEFA, after they breached their earnings and squad-cost rules (SCR).
The Blues face an increased fine if they fail to comply with regulations again over the next four years, while The Guardian state that they also face doubts over whether they will be able to register new signings in European competitions over the next two seasons.
With that said, their punishment leaves them under pressure to make sales this summer before their return to the Champions League, as UEFA have adjudged that the Stamford Bridge outfit will not be allowed to include new players in their European squad next season and in 2026-27, unless they can show they have “generated a cost saving with sale of players against acquisitions.”
It certainly makes sense, then, as to why they are open to letting Madueke leave this summer, even to a direct rival like Arsenal, as he is one of the few players in their squad that they are both happy to let go and also are able to sell for a substantial fee.
The likes of Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix are also on the Blues’ transfer list this summer, but neither has impressed as much as Madueke has in recent times, and so the list of suitors for both is seemingly a lot shorter.
The Gunners are struggling to get a deal over the line for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo right now, and so they are in need of another winger signing who can provide decent attacking output, but will also likely be more open than the Brazilian to being a rotation option, which is where Madueke comes in as a potentially smart capture.
Chelsea could struggle to sell fringe players like Sterling
Football Insider verdict
Chelsea’s need for instant sales is not surprising, considering the rate at which they have signed players in recent times, and while a surprise exit could arise, they are much more likely to want to sell the likes of Sterling, Felix and Nkunku.
Nkunku has emerged as a target for Spurs and Man United, but someone like Sterling is going to be tough to shift this summer considering his hefty wage packet and poor spell at Arsenal last season.
| Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| 81 | 62 | 19 | 15 |
His signature cost Chelsea a sizeable £47.5m [Sky Sports] nearly three years ago, and they have seen diminishing returns on that investment after he failed to net double figures for league goals in his first two seasons in West London.
Sterling was once one of the best wingers in the Premier League, but nowadays he is a shadow of his former self, and with the Blues needing to show that they are selling players for decent fees alongside their buys, the main stumbling block will likely be finding a club that is happy to take him on at 30-years-old and with seemingly little left in the tank, but plenty on his contract.