Chelsea and Arsenal prepare for massive transfer battle

Arsenal need Thomas Muller more than Chelsea

Chelsea and Arsenal are both registering interest in one of Europe’s most accomplished attackers. It’s clear that Arsene Wenger’s squad needs Thomas Muller much more than Antonio Conte’s defending Premier League champions.

Reports from England claim that both clubs are considering lodging massive offers for the German attacker. Recently, Muller has seen his place at Bayern Munich come under fire after the arrival of manager Carlo Ancelotti. He’s gone from star to bench player under the former Real Madrid boss.

For Chelsea, the idea of adding a player like Muller seems very much like a luxury purchase. He certainly has the talent to improve their attack, but it’s not as if the Blues are struggling to score goals at the moment. Muller would simply give Conte another world-class player to deploy against the rest of England’s top flight.

Arsenal, in sharp contrast, need to add a player of Muller’s quality. Arsene Wenger and the Gunners are facing the possibility of losing both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez on free transfers this summer. Adding Muller to their squad could completely change the way Arsenal are perceived by players all throughout Europe.

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The most interesting ramification of Muller moving to Arsenal is the possibility that it would cause the club’s two biggest current stars to stay put. Alexis may be too far gone, but the acquisition of a fellow German star would certainly increase Ozil’s interest in staying with the Gunners for the long haul. Signing Muller could effectively prove to be the deciding factor in Ozil’s decision.

The one certainty about this transfer saga is that Muller won’t be a cheap acquisition for anyone. A player with his accomplished goal scoring record will be coveted by a number of sides. Don’t be surprised if the list of clubs interested in Muller gets much longer before he ever decides on a new club.

There’s also a significant chance that Muller finds his way into Ancelotti’s starting XI this season. He may not be his prototypical star, but he’s simply too talented to leave on the bench. It’s also not out of the question that Bayern officials might prioritize keeping Muller over retaining Ancelotti if push comes to shove.

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If Thomas Muller does hit the transfer market, expect to see a massive bidding war ensue. It’s a war that Chelsea would love to win, but Arsenal need to win.