Liverpool to battle it out with Arsenal for talented African winger

Liverpool to battle it out with Arsenal for Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze

According to Spanish news outlet Fichajes (h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool are set to battle it out with Arsenal for talented Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze with the Reds lining up a move for him in January.

Chukwueze plays his football for Villarreal in La Liga and he is one of the highly-rated wide players in La Liga. The 23-year-old is very talented and has a huge future in the game if he continues to play similarly.

A product of the Villarreal youth academy, Chukwueze has been a part of the first team ever since 2018. He has had an impressive time with the Yellow Submarines but he will want to go forward in his career.

In 21 games for the La Liga side this season, Chukwueze has scored five goals and provided six assists across all competitions. He was a key player for Unai Emery’s side until the manager left for Aston Villa.

Now, with Quique Setien at the helm, it remains to be seen how the former Barcelona manager uses the Nigerian winger. He could be on the move as soon as January though and that means that Setien might never really get a chance to train him.

If Chukwueze indeed leaves Villarreal, a number of clubs could be interested in the talented player. Arsenal and Liverpool are mentioned as prominent interests but other clubs could join the race.

Whilst there is no doubt that the Nigerian forward is a genuine talent, it remains to be seen if he actually gets a chance at Liverpool. The Reds have a plethora of attacking options and it is not easy to get into the team.

Arsenal seems to be a better option for the 23-year-old as he will get more chances in Mikel Arteta’s team. Considering how well the Gunners are performing, he is likely to get Champions League football next season as well.

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If Liverpool really think they need Chukwueze, then they will need to have a plan for him. It remains to be seen how it goes through and if the African star agrees to join us given Salah, Diaz, and Jota’s presence.