Chelsea are working on a deal to sign Arsen Zakharyan from Dinamo Moscow and Thomas Tuchel is soon set to encounter a headache. The 19-year-old midfielder has quickly become heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as Todd Boehly looks to build for the future.
If the Blues can welcome the wonderkid midfielder to west London before the transfer window slams shut on September 1, Zakharyan would be the sixth teenage sensation to pen a deal at Cobham this summer, following in the footsteps of Omari Hutchinson, Zak Sturge, Gabriel Slonina, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Chelsea have submitted a bid for the Russia international and hope to wrap up a deal quickly.
Speaking to RB Sport, as quoted by SportsKeeda, Zakharyan's agent, Pavel Andreev, confirmed that his client is close to joining the Blues. Andreev said: "It's true, a €15million (£12.6m) deal is close."
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However, the Evening Standard have added that Chelsea could soon encounter a few problems before a deal can be completed. It's said that there remains a possibility that a move falls through amid various complex rules and regulations set by FIFA on the transfer of Russia or Ukraine-based players.
Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine makes the acquisition of a work permit and actually paying for the transfer complicated. Nonetheless, Zakharyan has been identified by Chelsea as a target this summer.
Speaking to football.london ahead of the Blues' clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Tuchel spoke on transfer activity fans can expect to see before the window shuts. He said: "I think we could use and strengthen our squad in depth and strength.
"But it's one thing that you wish for and another that is possible. It needs to be possible. We are looking for top quality, top personalities, good characters and competitors on the highest levels.
"You don't always get what you wish for, and that's why we are calm and ambitious at the same time. There are quite some days to go until the end of the transfer period. Everything is possible until the end."
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