Chelsea target Arsen Zakharyan still confident of Blues transfer despite move falling through due to sanctions
CHELSEA transfer target Arsen Zakharyan remains confident he will join the club despite a summer move collapsing.
The Blues were reportedly on the verge of bringing the 19-year-old to London but the £12.6million deal was blocked by British sanctions placed on Russia.
AFPDynamo Moscow’s Arsen Zakharyan remains hopeful he can move to Chelsea[/caption]
The attacking midfielder plays for Dynamo Moscow and the UK government would not allow money to go to Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
However, Zakharyan is still on Chelsea’s wishlist and the player remains hopeful of moving to the Premier League.
Zakharyan spoke to Sport Express and said: “I think it’s all right. Talks with Chelsea are underway. But I won’t reveal all the cards.”
It is not the first time he has appeared confident that he will get his dream transfer – speaking after a match in September he said: “I knew they [Chelsea] were interested, maybe in the winter.”
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His team-mate Fyodor Smolov then gatecrashed his interview chanting: “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea.”
Zakharyan has played 67 times for Dynamo Moscow scoring 15 goals and registering a further 20 assists.
Last season he helped fire the club to a 3rd place finish in the Russian Premier League and this campaign they are 4th.
Even if a deal can go through for the teenager there could then be further difficulties obtaining a work permit.
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Fifa have tough rules on signing Russian players and Chelsea will have to hope they can find a way around all the complications signing him brings.
Chelsea look set to splash the cash again in the coming windows as Graham Potter hopes to re-build the squad.
They already have a deal lined up for RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku and are rumoured to be keen on Brazillian wonderkid Endrick.
