Arsenal and Chelsea to battle for Spaniard with 16 goal contributions despite interest from Barcelona - Reports
Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly set to face off for RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo. The 25-year-old is a highly rated player and has the rare ability to play anywhere across the frontline as well as in a number 10 role.
He is notably on the radar of five clubs in Arsenal, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona, as per Sport Witness (via SportBild). The two Premier League side are said to be keeping tabs on the player while Barca are believed to be leading the race at the moment.
However, further reports have suggested that despite interest from La Liga, the Spanish attacker is open to all moves at the moment.
Arsenal's Spanish boss Mikel Arteta is seemingly keeping tabs on the player and is aware of Olmo's skillsets. As for Chelsea, they seem eager to snap up yet another talented youngster to their ranks come next year.
RB Leipzig have reportedly kept a €60m price tag (courtesy of a clause) on the player which is, as per reports, not prohibitive for the two Premier League sides.
Olmo registered five goals and 11 assists in 31 games last season. He has started off even better this season, hitting five goals and one assist in just four games in the 2023-24 campaign.
Is Olmo a good choice for Chelsea or Arsenal?
Olmo, who primarily operates as a left-winger, can also occupy spots as a number 10 or a false nine or even on the opposite wing. This versatility, along with his ability to create play, makes him a brilliant technical operator. More than his pace and flair, Olmo is known for his keen game sense and can be a manager's delight due to his attacking discipline.
He would more than likely fit in seamlessly at Arsenal, where all attackers are technically gifted and the team is rather set. The only issue could be his slot in the starting berth since the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are simply undroppable right now.
At Chelsea, he is likely to get the chief creator role from the left flank. It would allow Mauricio Pochettino to play with a number nine back to his goal, thus allowing Christopher Nkunku (ideal No. 10) and Raheem Sterling (from the right flank), to get into more goal-scoring positions.
Olmo could be the perfect player to bring that new dynamic to the team with his ability to rotate play in the final third. The only issue for the Blues might be his transfer fee with Chelsea having already spent north of £400m this summer.