Arsenal winger Noni Madueke targeted by Juventus and Atletico Madrid

Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke is attracting transfer interest from Atletico Madrid and Juventus after falling down the pecking order at Arsenal, according to The Telegraph.

The original report, which has been picked up by the Mirror, claims that the European heavyweights are monitoring the 24-year-old winger before the January market opens.

A difficult spell under Mikel Arteta

The Barnet-born attacker has found Premier League starts impossible to come by this season, with Bukayo Saka firmly established on the right wing.

Instead, Madueke has been limited to appearances off the bench in the league, though he has featured from the off in both the Community Shield and the Carabao Cup.

This lack of domestic action has also cost the forward his place in the international setup, with England manager Thomas Tuchel omitting him from his most recent Nations League squad.

To combat this setback, the winger has reportedly been putting in extra training sessions at Arsenal’s Colney base during the international break.

Madueke is not the only high-profile name waiting for a chance under Arteta, with striker Viktor Gyokeres also yet to start a league game for the Gunners this term.

High praise from a club legend

Despite his current struggles to break into the starting XI, there is no doubt about the quality the winger possesses.

During the World Cup, former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira spoke highly of the winger’s ability to stretch opposing backlines.

Praising his ability to make runs in behind on The Rest Is Football podcast, as reported by Yahoo Sports, Vieira said:

You are not going to find somebody better than Madueke

With Arsenal currently sitting three points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, squad depth will be vital if they are to defend their crown.

Losing a direct attacking option midway through the season would represent a major gamble for Arteta, especially given how heavily the team relies on Saka.

Other clubs could also enter the race in January if the Gunners show any desire to negotiate a temporary loan.

Potential tactical reshuffle and swap deals

However, an injury to Christos Tzolis, who hurt his hamstring while playing for Greece, might force Arteta to rethink his plans for the winger.

With Tzolis sidelined and Eberechi Eze considered more suited to central areas, Madueke could find himself deployed on the left wing in the coming weeks.

If Arsenal do decide to negotiate with Atletico Madrid, it could help them revive their interest in Argentina forward Julian Alvarez.

Alvarez has struggled to win over fans in Spain, facing jeers and boos during La Liga matches after expressing a desire to leave.

The Mirror suggests Madueke could potentially be used as a makeweight in a swap deal to finally bring Alvarez to the Emirates Stadium.

What comes next for the Gunners

For now, Madueke will be focused on forcing his way back into Arteta’s plans on the pitch.

The Gunners return to domestic competition on Saturday, October 10, hosting Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium for the early kick-off.

Whether the winger gets his chance to shine or remains on the periphery could dictate his transfer decision when January arrives.