Huge blow as Arsenal target decides he won’t join Chelsea despite imminent exit

Arsenal in pole position as Arsenal target Serhou Guirassy rejects Chelsea amid transfer battle

Chelsea’s pursuit of VfB Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy may come to an end as the striker has decided to leave the Bundesliga outfit and will now choose between Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan.

The London club has been leading in their search for a striker this summer, but Guirassy “now wants to decide” between the three teams, implying that he has chosen to ignore Chelsea.

This signing could be a potential bargain for Arsenal because Guirassy’s contract includes a €20 million (£17 million) release clause, presenting a very intriguing market opportunity for Arteta and Edu to explore.

The Guinea international had never scored more than 15 goals in a campaign before his 30 in 2023-24. Additionally, the player has had a few hamstring issues that have limited his playing time this season.

With just three goals in 18 appearances for his nation, Guirassy’s accomplishments on the international front haven’t been as noteworthy until last season.

Last season, the 28-year-old scored 30 goals in only 30 games for VfB Stuttgart, helping them finish second to Bayern Munich while also providing three assists.

This £17 million opportunity has the potential to be the signing of the summer for whichever team Guirassy decides to join, and Arteta will undoubtedly be eager for the striker to choose Arsenal.

As a result, signing Guirassy for under £17 million would present the Gunners with a low-cost alternative to potentially mix things up in attack without breaking the bank, allowing them to spend more money elsewhere.

Although the reason for Chelsea dropping their interest in the 28-year-old has not been specified, it may be due to Guirassy’s history of a lack of consistency, which may not align with the club’s focus on nurturing young talents.

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To compete with teams like Manchester City and Arsenal, Chelsea require players of a higher calibre. In the final third, Guirassy or someone like him could have had a significant impact. If Chelsea want to back out of a move for him, they need to find a good replacement.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on Guirassy wherever he goes to see whether he can replicate his success from this season.