Chelsea and Arsenal locked in transfer battle for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana

Chelsea will battle Arsenal for the signing of Everton midfielder Amadou Onana in the summer.

Amadou Onana, 21, recently revealed in an interview that he sees himself ‘in one of the biggest clubs’ in the future, just nine months after joining Everton from Ligue 1 side Lille for £33m. The Belgium international has been a shining light in another torrid season for the Toffees, who are 15th in the table and very much embroiled in a relegation dogfight.

The 21-year-old midfielder was on Chelsea and Arsenal’s transfer wishlist in the January transfer window, but the player turned down their advances amid a £50m asking price. Nonetheless, both Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly set to go toe-to-toe for the signing of Onana when the transfer window reopens in July.

Arsenal expected to revive their interest in Amadou Onana

Everton’s Amadou Onana was a target for Arsenal in January, as Mikel Arteta looked to bolster his midfield unit. Brighton star Moises Caicedo was at the top of the wishlist but Brighton’s exorbitant asking price forced Arsenal to sign Jorginho in a cut-price deal from London rivals Chelsea.

However, it would not be a surprise to see the Gunners strengthen their midfield department in the summer. They are on course to win their first Premier League title in two decades and will play Champions League football next season. That will allow the Mikel Arteta-managed club to attract top talents from the Premier League, as well as Europe.

That said, Arsenal may look to revive their interest in Amadou Onana in a bid to beef up their midfield options for a potential season in the Champions League.

Does Chelsea view Amadou Onana as a replacement for N’Golo Kante?

Chelsea spent a fortune for the signing of World Cup-winning star Enzo Fernandez in January, yet there appear to be glaring holes in midfield that needs addressing.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher have not really taken their chances, while the Blues are hesitant to offer Mason Mount a new contract with improved terms. N’Golo Kante has not played for Chelsea since the 2-2 draw against Tottenham in the Premier League in August due to a serious hamstring injury.

Kante, 31, has struggled with injuries over the last few years and it remains to be seen whether he is handed a new contract by the west London club. The diminutive Frenchman’s contract expires on 30 June 2023, with Paris Saint-Germain reportedly aiming to snap him up on a free transfer at the end of the season.

If Kante gets a new contract, Chelsea may look to sign someone like Amadou Onana as his deputy next term. At 21, Onana is still raw and developing, and he could be viewed as Kante’s long-term successor.

Everton will struggle to keep hold of Amadou Onana

Amadou Onana has shown flashes of his world-class potential in an Everton shirt, which has led the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea to sit back and take notice. Certainly, the Senegal-born Belgian enforcer will not hang around at Goodison Park if Everton suffers relegation. And if the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea come calling, the Toffees’ task of keeping their prized asset beyond the summer is only going to get harder.