Arsenal are closing in on a £52m deal for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, whose career at Stamford Bridge has not been all plain sailing after running into problems with manager Enzo Maresca last season
Chelsea star Noni Madueke is about to join London rivals Arsenal in a £52million deal - and the problems that have plagued his time at Stamford have now been laid bare.
Madueke is set to become the latest player to make the switch from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates to bolster Mikel Arteta's options on both wings.
He will sign a five-year deal with Arsenal after agreeing personal terms on a switch across the capital in a move that has proved to be divisive across the fanbase.
It remains to be seen whether Madueke will get any more first team football with the Gunners than he does currently with the Blues. The 23-year-old still managed 27 starts in the Premier League out of a possible 38 but appears to have fallen out of favour with boss Enzo Maresca.
Madueke joined Chelsea from PSV in January 2023 for an estimated fee of £28.5million, but according to a report from the Daily Mail, figures from the club don't believe he has kicked on in that time.
There have also been concerns over Madueke's discipline and attitude, having twice been dropped by Maresca over claims of poor training performances.
The Italian said his decision to drop him from the matchday squad travelling to Fulham on Boxing Day last season was a "technical decision", having previously left him out of the group that played away at Aston Villa.
And even after scoring in a 3-1 win over Wolves in January, Maresca said he wanted an "immediate" improvement from the player, claiming he "stopped playing" after scoring the third goal of the game.
"He can improve in the last third, but probably after he scored the goal he stopped playing," he said. "This has to be one thing we need to improve immediately. Never happy if you score one or two - always you have to go for more."
This summer Madueke - who has 20 goals and nine assists from 92 games - has been part of Chelsea's Club World Cup squad but he has only started two out of their six games in total.
He started the 2-0 win over Los Angeles last month but only played eight minutes of Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Flamengo. He then started against ES Tunis but had to settle for substitute roles against Palmeiras and Fluminense. The speculation could have influenced Maresca's decision making and he admitted there had been "noise" around Madueke's future before the semi-final clash against Fluminense.
"Personally I think the same noise where before Palmeiras came, you see we gave him half an hour and he was very good, so I don't have any doubt that if we need Noni he is going to help us," he said.
"At the same moment I can understand that as a human being when there are many noise around you it's not easy to deal with that, but hopefully he can deal with that."
cuyckmopy
0
I don't blame Madueke. Maresca doesn't seem to like him. So why not move on
you mean the coach doesn't like him without a reason???? I hope you can coach better.
macabiosu
0
Am very astonished with arsenal fans who are complaining about madueke and i believe many are only spectators and have never played football on a pitch, maybe in their phones.give madueke a chance coz he's still developing and am sure he will shine for us.arteta didn't make decisions about madueke alone,they obvious have been scouting him.stop all the bickering and welcome the player.we have seen havertz shinning in arsenal jersey...
It is not the problem with the player himself. It is because we are more in need of a CF instead of a RW. 50mil for a backup RW? Does that make sense? Or arteta planning to play him at LW which make even less sense to play him out of his position since there are better LW out there with 50mil price tag or less.
fatbeikor
1
I don't blame Madueke. Maresca doesn't seem to like him. So why not move on
Pescnoprtu
0
....... ..Non 11......... ...m...m..m saw tv
Laskawill
1
My problem is when they will sell him they will sell for £17M
I guess you don't know how to read then. When has £52m become £17m?
Dimaemnst
0
no room for him
powabnouyz
0
My problem is when they will sell him they will sell for £17M
ziddiksz
3
Why can't you go and buy Elanga instead.
huzcnpsu
0
We want a prolific striker; why inherit other club’s problems?
Kiddshawn
1
Crap
jimcdelmn
4
Am very astonished with arsenal fans who are complaining about madueke and i believe many are only spectators and have never played football on a pitch, maybe in their phones.give madueke a chance coz he's still developing and am sure he will shine for us.arteta didn't make decisions about madueke alone,they obvious have been scouting him.stop all the bickering and welcome the player.we have seen havertz shinning in arsenal jersey...
resabekpst
4
I follow Arsenal and believe that you should give him a chance. He’s a good player and i would love to see Trossaud solid. He will compete with Martinelli and can back up for Saka. Arteta wants versatility from his players and 2 for each position. He gives us that he is young still learning so give him a chance.
Vekacklmst
2
Other teams are signing players like kudus at 55m but our team is making useless signings
zumcklopru
4
Happy for you Madueke, hope u will shine in Arsenal. prove all of them wrong by scoring more goals this season
Ceaacdklpz
2
Arsenal is a miser club, always backing out when it comes to buying quality players, they always prefer average players, look where it got them so far. They where in the same shoes with PSG, before PSG revolution, today with the influx of the Saudi tycoons, they have won all the laurels in Europe, and and still after quadruple in wcc. Meanwhile Arsenal, in two decades are still chasing shadows, while kronke(owner) and Arsenal are busy pricing player like fish in the market, the same thing ,they did to Modryic 3 year ago B4 Chelsea snatch him in the cause, of their dilly dallying. Now they know that,their major need is a front man,(striker) but once again, seisko and Gyokeres are too expensive and they are chasing madueke, who is an alternative to Saka. please we the fans ,we spend a lot of money ,for we are faithfuls, our gains is just joy ,that keep us going, while chunk and chunks of money come to you as your investment. please make the fans happy ,do the needful ,Make the people happy buy one of these two hitmen, Rodrygo, Eze,then Madueke can come inlater . Kema is from warri, Nigeria.
Dotcdlmnsy
1
Madueke to backup Martineli coz Trossad is finish
Dotcdlmnsy
0
madueke gona bck up Martineli coz Trossad is finish
Sundeilmpr
0
useless and childish Arteta must GO,why always Chelsea's rejects
He saying he must go like you were the one that hired him. you ppl should try to understand the business side of football
OkposinJoseph
1
Arsenal busy piling up Chelsea rejects at Emirates with plenty of cash, Emirates has turned to Chelsea's caveat emptor,smh
Jabacnostu
2
Join me in signing this motion: ARTETA MUST GO! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH FOR THE GUNNERS!!! SIGN IN HERE:........................................ LET'S CLOSE THIS CHAPTER AND MOVE ON.
Hinbcelns
1
If Arsenal complete this transfer, Arsenal fans please forget about the whole striker stuff because Arsenal that I know will never get a striker even in the next two seasons. Arsenal FC is a complete joke at this stage. Signing Madueke, holy shit🙆🏻♀️
Jabacnostu
1
Arteta must just GO simple as that,he is giving Arsenal fans BP
Yes
Jabacnostu
0
coming to do what...
Nothing 😑
jasdeikly
0
useless and childish Arteta must GO,why always Chelsea's rejects
arsenal are our brother club we need money to balance UEFA financial rules 🤩
ziyaemopty
1
wow
Pinabeiops
2
coming to do what...
ColinsGooner
1
useless and childish Arteta must GO,why always Chelsea's rejects
ColinsGooner
3
Arteta must just GO simple as that,he is giving Arsenal fans BP
piedinrsu
2
arsenal it’s better to wait and see Rodrigo situation. It’s not like clubs are lining up for madueke to urgently sign him. Add 30m and get Rodrigo
Nasbcprsty
0
bullshit