Chelsea’s pursuit of Dynamo Moscow star Arsen Zakharyan has been a long-standing saga, with several attempts to bring the 20-year-old midfielder to Stamford Bridge falling through. Last year, the Blues were heavily linked with a move for the Russian talent, but due to British sanctions on Russia and FIFA’s transfer regulations for Russia or Ukraine-based players, negotiations hit a dead-end during the summer transfer window.
Despite their efforts to reignite the deal in January, the obstacles persisted. However, it appears that Chelsea’s owner, Todd Boehly, has found a potential workaround to facilitate Zakharyan’s transfer. According to reports from 90min, Boehly is exploring the option of signing the young midfielder for Strasbourg, the newly-acquired sister club of Chelsea.
With Zakharyan’s contract set to expire in 12 months, Strasbourg could acquire his services for a modest fee of £8.6 million. This strategic move could pave the way for a smoother transfer to the Premier League club in the future.
Mauricio Pochettino Denies Zakharyan’s Dream Midfield Partnership
Despite Todd Boehly’s efforts to navigate the complexities of Zakharyan’s potential transfer, Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Paris Saint-Germain, has already dealt a blow to the midfielder’s dream of playing alongside Joao Felix at Chelsea. In a January interview with SportExpress, Zakharyan revealed that he had envisioned teaming up with the Atletico Madrid star at Stamford Bridge.
The Russian talent even humorously remarked that in their partnership, he would occupy the central role, while Felix would take the left flank. However, as reported exclusively by football.london, Joao Felix’s loan deal did not include an option or obligation for Chelsea to sign him permanently. Despite his affinity for London and a desire to continue his stay beyond the loan period, Felix’s uncertain future in the Spanish capital saw him express an ambitious dream to play for Barcelona.
As the transfer window unfolds and the intricacies of international player movements continue to impact negotiations, the fate of Arsen Zakharyan’s potential move to Chelsea remains uncertain. Todd Boehly’s innovative approach through Strasbourg might open new doors, but Mauricio Pochettino’s decision concerning Joao Felix could have lasting implications on Zakharyan’s aspirations of forming a dream midfield partnership at Stamford Bridge.
