According to UK publication Sportwitness, Arsenal have identified Nigerian international Samuel Chukwueze as a potential replacement for the injured Bukayo Saka. The England international suffered a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period.
Saka lasted less than 25 minutes at Selhurst Park before he went down with the injury. After receiving treatment, he was unable to continue and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches. Reports suggest that Saka could be out for around two months, although he would have required surgery had he sustained a complete hamstring tear, which could have kept him out for up to six months.
While Arsenal are relieved that the injury is not more severe, they will still miss one of their key players during a crucial part of the season. With Saka expected to be unavailable until at least February, Mikel Arteta is reportedly considering a move for Chukwueze, who has also been linked with Aston Villa.
Sportwitness noted that Aston Villa had shown interest in Chukwueze, currently with AC Milan. However, the report indicates that Arsenal could become a more appealing option for the 25-year-old winger. MilanLive suggests that Chukwueze may find Arsenal to be the most “interesting option” as they seek an attacker to fill the gap left by Saka’s injury.
Chukwueze’s potential move to Arsenal comes as they aim to bolster their attacking options on the right wing. Aston Villa remains a contender for his signature, especially since he could reunite with Unai Emery, with whom he worked at Villarreal.
In addition to Arsenal and Aston Villa, a return to La Liga has also been mentioned as a possibility. Although no offers have yet been made for Chukwueze, the situation could change soon, as Milan looks to recover the €20 million plus €8 million they invested in him during the summer of 2023. It appears that a departure from the San Siro may be the best solution for Chukwueze’s future.
