Todd Boehly wants Arsenal target as he draws up three-man Chelsea transfer shortlist

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has reportedly drawn up a three-man transfer shortlist ahead of the January transfer window, including one star heavily linked Arsenal.

Chelsea were the Premier League’s biggest spenders in the summer transfer window, with Boehly spending over £270million on new signings.

But the American is expected to open the chequebook again in January as he looks to provide Graham Potter with funds to improve his squad.

And having scouted Joao Felix for a number of months, according to football.london the Portugal international is among the players the Blues will be targeting.

Arsenal were thought to be frontrunners for Felix, who wants out of Atletico Madrid as he is not on the best of terms with manager Diego Simeone.

But transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said this week that there are no current leaders in the race.

‘Despite some reports about Arsenal moving into a strong position, my understanding is that there are no favourites at this stage for Joao Felix,’ Romano said.

‘His agent is speaking to many clubs, it’s the moment of meetings and discussions but nothing is advanced yet with Atletico or with the player.

‘I think Joao Felix would be a fantastic signing for Arsenal as for any other club in the world, but he has to play. A regular starter in every single game, otherwise it makes no sense.’

And it’s thought Chelsea could ramp up their pursuit of the forward after Armando Broja’s injury in the friendly against Aston Villa, which looks set to rule him out for the season.

Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin recently admitted that bids for the player will be considered in the January window.

He said: “[Felix] is the biggest bet this club has taken in its history. I personally think he’s a top talent, a world class player.

“For reasons it isn’t worth getting into, the relationship between him and the boss, the minutes played, his motivation right now, it makes you think that the reasonable thing is that if there’s an option that’s good for the player, good for the club, we can look at it. I’d love him to stay personally, but I don’t think that’s the player’s idea.”

The football.london report claims that Boehly also has his heart set on two midfield additions at Chelsea.

Declan Rice, long linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, is said to be Chelsea’s top target, while the club also retains an interest in Ajax’s Edson Alvarez, whom they chased in the summer.

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