Chelsea keen to beat Arsenal in race to sign 21 year old Russian playmaker

Chelsea are interested in signing CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, according to Sport24.ru.

A “source familiar with the situation” told the Russian website that Blues owner Roman Abramovich is keen on recruiting the 21 year old, and he wants the club to make a bid for the player in the summer.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with Golovin in recent months, but it looks as though Chelsea could beat their London rivals to the midfielder’s signature.

It’s thought that the Russian international won’t be part of the first team squad straight away if he is bought. The most likely scenario will see the player move to Vitesse Arnhem on loan for next season.

If Golovin does move to the Netherlands, he would be managed by his former manager Leonid Slutsky, who managed CSKA for seven years between 2009 and 2016.

He gave the Russian midfielder his senior debut back in 2015 when the player was just 18.