Arsenal really wanted to sign ‘outstanding’ Chelsea star to be Declan Rice partner
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Arsenal has shown admiration for a particular player from their London rivals, Chelsea. Despite making a significant investment in Declan Rice to bolster their midfield last summer, it seems they had their sights set on more than just the former West Ham United captain.
Rice’s arrival has proven fruitful for the Gunners, as the 25-year-old has played a pivotal role in their challenge for the Premier League title this season. Conversely, Chelsea’s midfield reinforcements, including Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, have failed to propel them into contention for the title, with Lavia sidelined due to injury after just one appearance.
While Arsenal succeeded in securing Rice, they were unable to acquire another Chelsea player they had targeted. Journalist Charles Watts revealed that before Caicedo’s move from Brighton to Chelsea, Arsenal had expressed interest in signing him to partner alongside Rice. The intention was never an either-or scenario; they aimed to secure both players.
Arsenal’s current position at the top of the league suggests they are coping well without Caicedo. However, Chelsea’s need for Caicedo was more pressing. During the same transfer window, the Blues lost key midfielders N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Caicedo’s profile closely aligns with Kante’s playing style. The 22-year-old, lauded as “outstanding” by Roy Keane, excels in ball-winning, evident from his impressive average of 2.6 tackles per game in the Premier League, ranking second highest in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, according to WhoScored.
In essence, Caicedo represented Chelsea’s best opportunity to fill the void left by Kante’s departure.
