Chelsea transfer news: Blues 'open talks' to sign £68m Arsenal target

Chelsea are reportedly in talks to sign Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze in the summer transfer window. 

After securing Champions League football last season, the Blues have wasted no time in bolstering the squad this summer, with Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Estevao, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez arriving at the club already. 

Enzo Maresca is still looking to bolster the attacking midfield areas and has earmarked Eze as a potential option. 

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the England international, but according to TEAMTALK, Chelsea have 'opened talks' to bring him to Stamford Bridge. 

Chelsea leading the race to sign Eze 

Arsenal were reportedly expected to make contact with Palace chairman, Steve Parish, over the transfer of Eze, who has a release clause of £68m. 

The report claims that the Gunners have now cooled their interest in the 27-year-old creative midfielder, who netted the winning goal for the Eagles in the FA Cup final against Manchester City in May. 

Likewise, Spurs have also stepped back in recent weeks, focusing on other targets, and this puts Chelsea in a strong position to sign Eze. 

The former Queens Park Rangers midfielder is known for his flair, vision and ability to unlock defences, and his vast Premier League experience makes him an attractive option for the Blues as they look to assemble a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title. 

Eze joined Palace in the summer of 2020, and he has scored 39 goals in 166 games for them in all competitions, including 14 last season. 

Chelsea need to offload more players 

Maresca has a significant task ahead of him to sell fringe players from the squad. 

Noni Madueke is reportedly close to joining Arsenal, but Chelsea need to ship out more players to free up space and reduce their wage bill. 

The likes of Raheem Sterling, Christopher Nkunku, and Joao Felix are among players not in Maresca's plans, and the club should look to sell them permanently at the earliest. 

Eze would be a terrific signing for Chelsea, and the Blues are better placed than Arsenal or Spurs to lure him away from Selhurst Park.