Chelsea could raid Arsenal again in the summer as Blues target Gunners’ midfield engine

Antonio Conte’s Chelsea are all set to raid Arsenal for the second time in six months as reports have emerged that they are currently tracking the contract situation of Aaron Ramsey.

Ramsey, a three-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, sees his current Arsenal contract expiring at the end of the 2018-19 season and the Gunners have not offered a new contract extension till date. The midfielder, who has 6 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League this season, was quipped about his situation at the Emirates and he literally had no answers for that.

“Nothing to comment on at the moment,” Ramsey told BT Sport. “I think they’ve been busy to tie up other contracts at the moment.”

That being done, reports of his potential exit have mounted big time and Antonio Conte’s Chelsea have emerged as shocking favourites. The Mirror says that the Blues are set to make a big overhaul over the summer and their transfer target includes the name of this Welshman.

Chelsea have shown a greater interest in Arsenal’s prodigies over the years. Back in the summer, the Blues were credited with an interest in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. But the England midfielder decided to move to Anfield instead.

Chelsea eventually had to settle for Everton’s contract rebel Ross Barkley, who joined us in January. Another January arrival was Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud who switched his alliance for £18million.

Furthermore, as the Mirror has claimed, an overhaul at the Bridge could see a number of players get axed by the board with the first one being midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Like Ramsey, Fabregas will also have a year left on his Chelsea deal by the beginning of the next season and no talks about a possible extension have been initiated until now.

Another midfielder who might face the axe is their summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko. Hence, the departure of even a single player from the aforementioned names would leave Chelsea short in the midfield department.

So signing Ramsey would become essential in that case. In my opinion, we would be wise to sign the Welshman and throw Bakayoko away as Ramsey is clearly a better option to have than Bakayoko.