Arsenal set to miss out on another transfer target to Chelsea as club disadvantage explained

Arsenal could be set to lose another player they like to London rivals Chelsea with multi-club model again proving a disadvantage to the Gunners

Chelsea are keen on signing Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Kerim Alajbegovic. The Bosnian international made a name for himself on the global stage after scoring in the World Cup.

football.london understands that the 18-year-old is one of the players who had been under consideration as a potential signing for Arsenal’s own left-hand side. However, with both Gabriel Martinelli and new boy Christos Tzolis, regular minutes could prove challenging.

Chelsea also have options, including the £117million addition of Morgan Rogers. However, the benefit Chelsea have to offer any young player is a pre-made pathway to senior minutes at a good level with Strasbourg.

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The multi-club model allows clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City the chance to sign players and offer guarantees over playing time, or profit from signing young players who are then sold for big profit. Andrey Santos spent time with Strasbourg before returning to Chelsea and then signing for Manchester United for £50million.

Djordje Petrovic is another example, signed for just north of £10million, spent time in France before getting some minutes with Chelsea when more ready before being sold to Bournemouth. Red Bull Salzburg, Alajbegovic’s former club, have one of the most famous multi-club groups with RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls and even Leeds United, who saw the drinks manufacturer take a minority ownership stake in the club in 2024.

Mikel Arteta has hinted that a multi-club model is something Arsenal should be looking to explore in 2025. Although so far, there has been no suggestion that Arsenal are looking at doing such a thing any time soon.

“Well, that’s something that a lot of clubs have at the moment,” said Arteta. “So, that restriction in the country has provoked that many other clubs have now, like sister clubs or multi-club systems, to be able to do that.

“So, looking ahead in the future, it’s something basically to explore because obviously with the actual system it’s very, very difficult. Every club is very different in the way that they are set up, and the clubs that they have picked are various.

“But in our way, it’s obviously a decision from our ownership and the board to understand what is the best thing for the club in the future.

“My involvement is in the team and the squad. I have full trust in what the club has to do there, and they have to decide. If the club wants my opinion, then I’m more than happy to give that, but my focus is on the team.”